FC Bayern face their second top-of-the-table clash in the Champions League in the space of three weeks on Wednesday. Having travelled to then leaders Paris Saint-Germain in second place at the start of this month, the Munich men are now aiming to defend top spot in the league phase table away to closest rivals Arsenal FC. Vincent Kompany’s side won 2-1 in Paris on the last matchday. Read the facts to find out why they also go into this crunch match with good cards.
Best defence versus best attack
As well being a meeting of two of the three teams yet to drop points in the current Champions League season – Inter Milan being the other – Wednesday night also pits the best defence against the best attack. Arsenal are the only team yet to concede in the competition, which Bayern will obviously be looking to change with their top attack (14 goals in four matches, same as PSG).
Even though the Bavarians have scored at least once in each of their last 11 Champions League outings (2.5 goals per game on average), that certainly won’t be an easy task in North London. Not only have the Premier League leaders won their last 15 home games in the group/league phase of Europe’s premier club competition, but have also kept a clean sheet in 12 of them.
Bayern’s run against the Gunners
Bayern have tended to get the better of Arsenal in recent meetings between the teams, winning four of the last five and drawing the other – most recently in the 2023/24 quarter-finals, when FCB advanced to the next round through a 1-0 win at home following a 2-2 draw in London. The last of only three defeats in 14 encounters with the Gunners (W8, D3) came in the group stage of the 2015/16 competition (2-0 away).
Overall, the club from the English capital have had problems against Bundesliga opponents in recent years. In their last nine games against German teams, Arsenal have managed just two victories (D1, L6) – both against Borussia Dortmund.
Emirates expert Kane
As a native Londoner and long-time forward for city rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane knows better than almost anyone how to score goals against Arsenal. The England captain has found the net 15 times in 21 competitive meetings against the Gunners. Six of those have come in 10 trips to the Emirates Stadium, making him the highest-scoring opposition player in the stadium’s history. He was also on the scoresheet in the 2-2 draw on Bayern’s last outing there.
Who will fall behind for the first time?
Bayern and Arsenal are among the four teams, along with Inter Milan and Manchester City, who have yet to be behind in a Champions League match this season. The German champions have spent 345 minutes in the lead (89% of total playing time) – the best figure of all clubs.
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