Champions League Match Preview: Bayern Munich Vs Barcelona
Venue: Allianz Arena Stadium
Referee: V. Kassai
Probable starting line ups:-
Bayern Munic: Neuer; Lahm, Van Buyten, Dante, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Muller, Ribery; Mandzukic
Barcelona: Valdes; Dani Alves, Pique, Abidal, Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Alexis.
Predicted Score : Bayern Munich 1-1 Barcelona
Tonight’s Champions League semifinal features 2012 finalist Bayern Munich, who host four time Champions League winners and glamour team Barcelona at the Allianz Arena. The first leg at the Allianz Arena will be the ultimate test for the two. Critics say the semi final actually resembles the atmosphere of a classic final. The Germans have always been looking up to Spain as their role model, aiming to learn from them, after they ended Germany’s hopes of winning titles in two major tournaments.
The semifinal between Europe’s 2 most elite teams shall be the ultimate fight for ball possession. Barca, who are kings in maintaining ball possession, face a stiff competition from Bayern Munich, who also play football based on ball possession. Barcelona looks brighter among the two as they have a ball possession rate of 68% (against 57% for Bayern), in addition to their passing accuracy, which is 83%. Barcelona have completed 7,220 passes, which is 2,555 more than the second placed Bayern Munich (4,665).
Recent form: WWWWW
Bayern’s form and style of play has been impressive this season. They are on their quest to be the first German team to win the European, league and Cup titles. Their defence has been superb this season and is currently on a run of four clean sheets. Jyupp Heynyckes’s side have won 22 of their last 23 matches, suffering just 1 defeat against Arsenal in the Champions league Round of 16. Phillip Lahm, Dante and Gustavo will miss the second leg of this fixture if they recieve a yellow card today. Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic will miss the Champions League showdown against Barcelona through suspension and Gomez should replace his teammate. Gomez scored an outstanding 41 goals in his last season, although he has been criticized for missing open goals. However, Bayern Munich have not kept a clean sheet in their last 12 Champions League games at home against Spanish opposition. Barca have defeated Bayern 4-0 at the Camp Nou in 2009 and eventually went on to win the Champions League that year.
Recent Form: WWDWD
Barcelona are once again the favourites to win the Champions League. Their performance has been below par in their last two games against PSG, as they were less consistent in the path in which they progressed to the Champions League semifinals, drawing both their fixtures against Ancelotti’s side in the quarterfinals, and sneaking into the next round on away goals. Barcelona have reached the Champions League semi-finals for the sixth consecutive season, a record in the history of the competition. Barca can keep aside all pressure as Argentine sensation has returned after his hamstring and will be the key man for Barca to assist them in progressing to the final at Wembley. However, Barca’s record on German soil against German team reads 9W,10D and 5L.
Coach Vilanova, who will adopt a 4-3-3 formation, will most probably select Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez on both the wings to provide two players with high energy to shut down Bayern’s fullbacks, David Alaba and Phillip Lahm. In defence, Puyol and Mascherano are injured, while Adriano Correia is suspended. And it looks like youngster Bartra or Frenchman Eric Abidal will fill the gap to partner with Gerad Pique. Inserting Abidal into the role of a centre back will boost the spirits of Barca. Pique, Alba and Song will miss the 2nd leg against Bayern if they get a yellow card today. In the midfield, Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta are likely to start. Messi ,who has returned from his hamstring injury,will attack, with the support of Pedro and Alexis Sanchez.