Preview
Two of the biggest clubs in football history, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, are gearing up for a highly-anticipated showdown in round one of the widely-acclaimed UEFA Champions League tournament. The continental powerhouses kick off the campaign with this 3 p.m. ET clash at the iconic Camp Nou as the Catalan giants look to avenge their historic and unforgettable defeat at the hands of the Germans two seasons back.
Thirteen months have passed since the Blaugrana and the Bavarians faced off in a now historic 2019/20 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which had erupted a short while before the last eight, this fixture was played in a one-all match in Lisbon, a move which looks to have spared the Spanish side from further embarrassment.
Having sacked Valverde, Barcelona appointed Setien as his replacement and had hopes that the former Real Betis tactician would spark a turnaround at the Camp Nou. Unfortunately, quite the opposite occurred, with Messi and Co. going on to lose by a whopping 8-2 score line against the Bundesliga champions, their heaviest defeat in almost half-a-century.
That result was the climax after years and years of decline at Catalonia's biggest club. Lionel Messi handed in a transfer request just a few months later after losing all hope in the sporting project while Josep Maria Bartomeu, the now former president, was forced into resignation months before his term was due to complete.
Fast forward to today and a lot has changed at Barcelona. Club legend Ronald Koeman is at the helm, having been appointed the manager last summer, a move which resulted in a Copa del Rey win in his debut campaign. Messi, who was forced to remain after handing in a transfer request, left for free the following summer due to the club's dire financial mess, with summer signing Memphis Depay appearing to have picked up his mantle.
The same is true for Bayern Munich. While the core players who led them to the treble in 2020 are still there – Lewandowski, Muller, Kimmich, Gnabry, and Neuer – new faces have been brought in. Hansi Flick is no longer in charge, having left the Allianz Arena for the German national team job, with Julian Nagelsmann replacing him. He brought in the likes of Upamecano and Sabitzer from his former club RB Leipzig, and despite a bumpy start to life in Munich, die Roten are only two points adrift of the league summit. Do not miss this clash.
Team news
Barcelona: While Memphis Depay has taken to life at the Camp Nou like a duck in water, Koeman will be without three important attackers: Sergio Aguero, Ansu Fati, and Ousmane Dembele. Braithwaite has also joined the aforementioned trio on the sidelines while Coutinho is yet to make a return.
Bayern Munich: Serge Gnabry, one of the players who caused Barcelona mayhem in that 8-2 encounter, is in doubt after picking up a knock in the win over RB Leipzig. Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso are also on the sidelines, but in-form youngster Jamal Musiala is tipped to slot into the starting eleven.
Key stats
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Barcelona have lost seven times against Bayern Munich in Europe while winning only two, making the Germans their worst continental opponents.
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The last time these two sides met in the UEFA Champions League group stage was in 1998/99. The Blaugrana lost both home and away against die Roten and failed to make the knockout stage.
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The Bundesliga champions are unbeaten in their last 18 away games in this competition, which is a club record.
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The Blaugrana are unbeaten in their last 22 opening games of the UEFA Champions League.
Broadcast listings
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
