A new Champions League season begins! FC Bayern host Manchester United on Wednesday night (live text and free Web Radio commentary from 21:00 CEST on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app) on Matchday 1 of the group stage. The Munich men are looking to make a perfect start to the new European campaign with a home win and also extend one or two incredible runs. All the important info on the clash against United is in the preview.
Here are the best photos from the day before the meeting with Man United:
The state of play for Bayern
With the match against Manchester United, Bayern start the new Champions League season with a cracker of a fixture and one that has a lot of history. "It's one of the hardest but also nicest competitions. Night games on a Tuesday or Wednesday are something else. It's a great privilege and will never become normal being involved in it," Thomas Tuchel described the significance of Europe's premier club competition. Summer signing Harry Kane is also looking forward to getting started: "It's the biggest competition in Europe. Having the final at Wembley would obviously be extra special for me, but that's too far ahead. We start tomorrow night and we have a difficult group to get through."
Tuchel won't be able to take his place in the dugout due to a suspension from the last Champions League match of last season against Manchester City. "I can't have any contact with the team in the stadium," explained Tuchel. "It's not nice but it's pointless discussing it. We're a strong coaching team and my assistants will deal with it. With our quality and energy - I'll try to bring energy from the stands - we'll manage it."
Based on current form, Bayern are the favourites. The German record champions have taken 10 points from the first four Bundesliga games after conceding a last-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 in an intense top-of-the-table clash against Bayer 04 Leverkusen last Friday. From a statistical point of view, too, the Bavarians can go into the assignment against United with confidence. They're unbeaten in 34 Champions League group games (W31 D3) and have won each of their last 19 opening matches in the competition.
The other facts on the match are here:
The opponents: Manchester United
United qualified for the Champions League after finishing third in the Premier League last season. It's been a stuttering start to the new campaign for the English record champions: after two wins and a draw in the first three league outings, they've suffered back-to-back defeats, including a 3-1 loss at home to Brighton & Hove Albion last time out. "In a match against Manchester United you can never be sure," warned coach Tuchel. "When you feel like you have control, that's the most dangerous moment. They're excellent in transition with Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and now Rasmus Højlund - a huge amount of quality and speed."
We take a closer look at the opponents in our United profile:
The team news for Bayern vs. Man Utd
Captain Manuel Neuer remains sidelined for Bayern. Raphaël Guerreiro returned to full training this week after his muscle strain, but it's too early for him to be involved on Wednesday. Kingsley Coman, who sat out the game against Leverkusen because of muscular problems, will return to the squad.
On the visitors' injury list are Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphaël Varane, Luke Shaw, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount and Tyrell Malacia.
We spoke to Serge Gnabry ahead of the UCL opener:
What the coaches say
We have to be extremely alert and smart about how we occupy the spaces when we're attacking and can't ever switch off. It's a top match to start with for us. The group will remain tricky. We have to be well prepared and go to our limit every time in order to achieve our objectives.
Thomas Tuchel
They have very talented players and a lot of individual quality. They're very strong at home in the Champions League. We like the challenge and believe in ourselves. We're here to get a good result.
Erik ten Hag
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