How are Bayern Munich doing?
On Wednesday Barça need to win in the Allianz Arena in Munich in a game that will take place behind closed doors to guarantee themselves of a place in the last 16 of this season's Champions League. To take all three points Xavi Hernández's team will need to beat one of the most in form sides in European Football, already guaranteed top spot in the group: Bayern Munich.
Top scorers in Europe
The German side coached by Julian Nagelsmann are impressive going forward. In the Bundesliga they have scored 45 goals in 14 matches, more than anyone else in Europe's top five leagues. Their most recent fixture saw them take a vital 3-2 away win at second placed Borussia Dortmund to stretch their lead at the top of the table to four points over their biggest rivals.
In the Champions League group stage the Bavarians have won all five of their matches so far in the competition, scoring 19 goals and conceding just three, making them top scorers in the competition so far.
Lewandowski the centre of attention
Bayern's main attacking weapon is Polish striker Robert Lewandowski. The forward came second to Leo Messi in the recent 2021 Ballon d'Or awards and is joint top scorer in the Champions League on nine goals with Ajax's striker Sébastian Haller. In the Bundesliga he is also top scorer with 16 goals in 14 matches.
Job done for Bayern
The Germans come into Wednesday's game with Barça knowing that their place in the last 16 as group winners is already guaranteed. With a demanding fixture coming up in the Bundesliga next Saturday against an improving Mainz 05 side, coach Nagelsmann may well rotate his starting XI for the visit of Xavi Hernández's team.
Covid-19 problems
The resurgence of the coronavirus in Germany, in particular in Bavaria, has led to Wednesday's game being played behind closed doors and also positive tests on 25 November for Bayern players Joshua Kimmich, Michaël Cuisance and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The trio will undergo pre-game testing to see if they can be considered for selection. Definitely out due to injury are Marcel Sabitzer, Bouna Starr and Josip Stanisic.
Julian Nagelsmann, youth on the sidelines
At just 34 years of age, Julian Nagelsmann is already coach of the biggest names in European Football. In became the youngest coach ever to appear in the Champions League with former club Hoffenheim. A coach with his own style and with a great future ahead of him still, Nagelsmann is proving that age is no barrier to success in his first season with Bayern Munich.
