FC Bayern host FC Barcelona on Tuesday night (21:00 CEST) in their first Champions League home match of the season. Just like Julian Nagelsmann’s side, the Catalans began the campaign with a victory, beating Viktoria Plzeň 5-1, meaning the table also reflects that this is a clash of European heavyweights. But which team have the better chances from a statistical perspective? Read our facts and stats on the fixture to find out.
1. Head-to-head clearly favours Bayern
The two FCBs have met 13 times competitively, and there’s a clear winner. The Munich men have won nine of those encounters, alongside two draws and two Barça successes. Each of the last four have gone the way of the German record champions. Bayern have also won all four of the meetings in the Champions League group stage (1998/99 and 2021/22). Barcelona have not lost more than twice to any other team in the group stage of Europe’s premier club competition.
2. Bayern on verge of amazing record
Last Wednesday’s victory at Inter Milan was Bayern’s 29th consecutive Champions League group match without defeat (W26 D3). Only Real Madrid have had a longer unbeaten run in group games in the competition - 30 between 2012 and 2017. The Bavarians can now equal that record against Barcelona.
3. A force at home
The Allianz Arena is a real fortress for Bayern in the Champions League group stage. The hosts have won 35 of their last 37 home games in the competition, the only exceptions being a 3-2 defeat to Manchester City in 2013 and a 1-1 draw against Ajax in October 2018.
4. Sané loves the Champions League
Leroy Sané starred in the group opener against Inter Milan, again demonstrating that he particularly enjoys playing in the Champions League. Since the beginning of last season, he’s been directly involved in 13 goals in Europe’s premier club competition (seven goals, six assists) - that’s only bettered by strikers Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski during the same period.
5. Müller’s favourite opponents
Thomas Müller particularly likes playing - and scoring - against Barcelona. In his seven Champions League appearances against the Catalans he’s netted eight goals, three more than against any other club and also three more than any other player in the competition against Barça. On top of that, our number 25 celebrates his 33rd birthday on Tuesday - if that’s not a good omen!
We’ve examined Barcelona more closely:
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