Barcelona vs Bayern Munich
14 August 2000hrs
Football – Europe – Champions League
Pick Bayern Munich
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: EVENS odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 13 August
This is a repeat of the 2013 and 2015 semi-finals when on Bayern Munich and Barcelona went on to win the competition respectively. Which of the two European giants will progress to the last four this time?!
Table of Contents
Barcelona Preview – Can Messi produce more heroics and lead Barca to the semi-finals?
There’s no way of disguising that Barcelona failed domestically as they could only finish second to Real Madrid and it’s been a season where there has simply been too much drama off the field. Quique Setien was the surprise choice to replace the sacked Ernesto Valverde at the beginning of 2020 and it’s fair to say his future could be decided by what happens over the next 10 days or so in Portugal. With much talk about the breakdown in relationship between the coaching staff and players, and the mundane style of football, there’s not much goodwill.
Last season was the first time since their 2015 triumph that Barcelona have made it to the semi-final before that infamous surrender at Anfield.
Saturday’s 3-1 win at home to Napoli was hardly scintillating but it did feature another memorable goal from Lionel Messi. Setien has yet to find a system that allows Barca’s captain to have his greatest impact and that was only his third goal in this Champions League campaign.
Barcelona’s Champions League campaign has been a microcosm of their season to date. They win more often than not but it’s far from impressive, their attacking play is disjointed and laboured and they lack the dynamism that is often required for success.
Bayern Munich Preview – Will Bayern’s phenomenal run continue and remain on course to complete the treble?
It’s remarkable to think that Hans Flick is still to complete a year in charge of being a coach at senior level. Appointed when Niko Kovac was sacked towards the end of 2019, Flick has surpassed all expectations by leading Bayern to a league and cup double and doing so in a style that brings back memories of the all-conquering 2013 team led by Jupp Heynckes.
This Bayern team have a chance to emulate that group and the likes of Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, David Alaba and Jerome Boateng can do it for a second time. All four of them started the final against Borussia Dortmund and are playing some of their best football since then under Flick.
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The second leg of Bayern’s last 16 tie against Chelsea was virtually a procession having been up 3-0 up from the first encounter. What it did give them a chance to do, however, is build back up to speed with it being their first game since the German Cup final at the beginning of July.
The man front and centre of Bayern’s whole season is the formidable Robert Lewandowski. The Polish marksman has broken all sorts of records this season and took his tally to 13 in the Champions League with his double over Chelsea. With a potential three games left, the record for most goals in one Champions League campaign (16) is still within his reach.
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich Betting Advice
Both these teams have won the Champions League five times and will feel their next is overdue with waits of five and seven years respectively. It’s very much Bayern who come into Friday’s quarter-final as the form team, however, and considerably so. Where Barca have looked lacking and short of quality, the Bundesliga champions are playing some of the best football we’ve seen from them in some time.
And perhaps more crucially coming into a one-legged tie, their attacking options are much greater and the system is getting the most out of their biggest threat.
Key Facts – Barcelona vs Bayern Munich Betting Tip
- Since winning the Champions League in 2015, Barcelona have been beyond the quarter-finals only once
- Bayern Munich have reached at least the semi-final stage in seven of the last nine seasons
- This will be the first meeting between the teams since the 2015 semi-final when Barca won 5-3 on aggregate
Whenever Barcelona have needed a big performance and a result in a crucial game they have ultimately came up short. There’s nothing to indicate that will change tomorrow and with Bayern having won their last 18 in all competitions, it’s hard to see beyond the Bavarians not making it into the semi-finals yet again.
The best betting odds for Barcelona vs Bayern Munich
Barcelona to win: 5/2 Betvictor
Draw: 3/1 at Betvictor
Bayern Munich to win: 1/1 at Betvictor
