The excitement is rising, the business end of the season is starting! FC Bayern visit Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday evening (live ticker from 21:00 CET on fcbayern.com). “We want to lay the foundation for progressing to the next round. It’s very important we get a good result there,” stated Thomas Müller. fcbayern.com has all the important info on the match.
Bayern’s situation
Bayern are in top form going into their first European week of the year. The German record champions are now unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions. “We’re having a very successful time at the moment and are the only German club that are still in the three competitions [Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Champions League]”, said chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “We’ll try to continue our European journey, but you have to take it one round at a time and not start dreaming of the final.”
The men from Munich have already shown their ambitions in the Champions League with six wins from six group games and a goal difference of 24:5, the best group stage in the history of Europe’s premier club competition. It’s now about following on from that in London.
The highlights of the Champions League group stage 👇
Opponents Chelsea
Chelsea go into the match on the back of a win after beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The Blues are currently sitting in fourth place in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League knockout stages after finishing second in Group H, behind Valencia and ahead of Ajax and Lille.
“Chelsea have a young team who play in a very carefree way,” described FCB coach Hansi Flick. “They attack quickly and look for opportunities to finish. They’re a side who can exert a lot of pressure, particularly at home.”
Our form check on opponents Chelsea 👇
Team news
Nikas Süle (ACL), Ivan Perišić (broken ankle) and Javi Martínez, who trained with the group for the first time since his muscle injury on Sunday, will be absent for the Reds in West London. Meanwhile, there was positive news on Leon Goretzka, who missed Friday’s match against Paderborn due to a muscular problem. “Leon took part in the final training session and is fit,” confirmed Flick.
As for Chelsea, they will be without N'Golo Kanté, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi. “Pedro will be back in the squad,” revealed manager Frank Lampard. Striker Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek had already returned to the squad against Spurs.
Leon Goretzka was back in training after his muscular problem and travelled to London.
What the coaches say
Hansi Flick: “We have to play with all our concentration and passion. The team know what to expect. We want to attack with courage and confidence and are in good form. It’s important we send out a signal in the first leg. We’ll do well to go into the game with respect but without fear.”
Frank Lampard, Chelsea manager: “We’re up against a very strong team who are capable of winning the Champions League every year. Our job is to prepare the team for this game. We need to be focussed and give everything in order to emerge victorious from these two games.”
Referee Clément Turpin
Frenchman Clément Turpin will officiate the first leg of the last-16 clash between Chelsea and Bayern. The German record champions will fondly remember their previous experience of the 37-year-old referee, who was in charge for their 7-2 triumph at Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham in October – how about that for a good omen!
Kits
Bayern will play in all red at Stamford Bridge, with our goalkeeper in grey. Chelsea will be in their traditional blue, with the goalkeeper wearing turquoise.
Hansi Flick’s key press conference quotes before the first leg at Chelsea 👇
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