Bayern ready for ‘clash of two top European teams’ at Barcelona in Champions League

Matchday 3 of the Champions League’s new league phase has brought a real highlight as Bayern head to Barcelona on Wednesday night (kick-off at 9pm CEST, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). “It's a real top game between two teams who are in very good form. Both teams play in very attacking ways, are very active going forward. I think we can be excited about a very attractive game,” said sporting director Christoph Freund prior to Bayern’s departure for Spain on Tuesday. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the match in our preview.

Recap all the build-up from Tuesday here:

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Bayern touch down in the Catalan capital with plenty of wind in their sails after Saturday’s impressive 4-0 win over VfB Stuttgart that kept Vincent Kompany’s men top of the Bundesliga table. “The way we’re playing gives us confidence. We’ve not won a title yet this season, but wins are the foundation for titles. And a good togetherness and good football are also the foundations for wins. We're on track there. We players see the path and believe in the way we're playing,” said Joshua Kimmich at Tuesday’s press conference.

However, Bayern are under a bit of pressure in Europe. The thumping 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the opening game was followed by a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa. The goal now in Spain is to pick up points again to ensure they stay in the running for one of the coveted top eight places in the league phase that means direct passage to the round of 16. “It’s a big chance for us, and it’s important that we get back to winning ways in the Champions League,” added midfielder João Palhinha. “Our big goal is to take three points,” Freund declared as well. Coach Kompany obviously also wants to win, but he did try to play down the significance of the match for fans and the media: “Me as a person, I don't make any differences between games and opponents. Barcelona is now the most important game for me because it’s our next. I live for every game like this every week. But we obviously also want to test ourselves against the top clubs in Europe. It'll be exciting.”

Read up on the pre-match facts:

Opponent: Barcelona

Barcelona have also been in excellent form so far this season, rediscovering their attacking and possession-based style under the tutelage of ex-Bayern boss Hansi Flick. It’s seen the Catalans win nine of their opening 10 La Liga games this term (plus one defeat), leading the table over arch-rivals Real Madrid by three points. However, they were beaten in their opening Champions League game away at Monaco (2-1), playing for over 80 minutes with 10 men after Eric García’s red card. Barca then went about putting that right with a routine 5-0 win at home to Young Boys of Switzerland.

It’s set to be big week for Barcelona, with this Champions League game against Bayern coming just before Saturday’s trip to Madrid for El Clásico. “The players who want to play for this club have to be big enough to be ready for challenges like this. We've worked hard to take three points home tomorrow,” said forward Raphinha.

“It says a lot for Barca that they have another player so quickly after the Messi era who can one day take on that same role in Lamine Yamal. That says a lot for La Masia, what an amazing job they do in youth development there. But our focus is on the whole Barcelona team, not just one opposition player,” stated Kompany when asked about the opponents.

We spoke with former Bayern defender Patrik Andersson about Barcelona:

Team news

As well as long-term injury absentees Hiroki Ito (metatarsal), Josip Stanisic and Sacha Boey (both knee) all still being sidelined, Bayern are now also without Aleksandar Pavlović, after he broke his collarbone against Stuttgart. “We'll really miss Aleks. He started the season really well. But we're still well covered in the position and will try to make up for his absence,” said Kimmich. “That's generally what makes a team, that the others are there when someone's out. And we've got great confidence in the other guys.” However, Jamal Musiala, who missed the Stuttgart game with a hip issue, has made the trip to Spain.

Barcelona are without Marc-André ter Stegen (knee), Ronald Araújo (thigh), Andreas Christensen (Achilles), Marc Bernal (knee), Ferran Torres (thigh) and Eric García (adductor).

Get tips on what to do in Barcelona here:

What the coaches say