To keep their grip on first place in Group C of the Champions League, Bayern Munich will host Viktoria Plzen at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
The squad led by Michal Bilek will be hoping to get their first win of a tough European season.
Our Match Preview: Bayern Munich Vs Viktoria Plzen
After a 4-0 league triumph on Friday, where they have struggled this season, Bayern returns to the Champions’ League group stage, where they have beaten Inter Milan and Barcelona and have not conceded a goal.
Leroy Sane has scored in both group games so far and will try to continue his eye-catching start after two years at Bayern where he struggled to display the form many expected after his Manchester City performances.
With back-to-back games against Plzen, The Bavarians can pretty well close up qualification for the knockout stages, which will take the weight off two hard games after the group stage and allow a concentration on the league, which may prove essential in the run-up to the World Cup.
Nagelsmann will undoubtedly have one eye on their forthcoming Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund and will hope his side can win early so he can rest important players.
Manuel Neuer and Leon Goretzka tested positive for COVID last week, and Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich tested positive following the Bayer Leverkusen match on Friday.
Viktoria Plzen, who is unbeaten in the league, has played different opponents in the Champions League, and the results have not surprised anyone.
Colombian midfielder Jhon Mosquera, who has played in the forward line in European competition, will be the crucial man to watch on the Czech team’s roster.
He has scored five times in six starts from midfield so far this season, including in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Bohemians 1905.
After two qualifying rounds and a playoff to get into the Champions League, Plzen may have hoped for a more advantageous draw that would have given them a chance to secure a third-place berth in the group and a Europa League knockout round playoff spot, but they got drawn against three European heavyweights.
After conceding five goals against Barcelona and two to Inter Milan, they want to improve in this encounter. Bayern will be the toughest opponent given their Champions League form.
Our Team News: Bayern Munich Vs Viktoria Plzen
Bayern Munich will make some lineup adjustments due to the positive COVID instances of Muller and Kimmich.
After recovering from COVID to make a substitute appearance on Friday, Marcel Sabitzer is expected to start in the deeper midfield role he played in the previous matchup, with Goretzka playing alongside him.
Muller’s replacement is less certain, with summer acquisition Mathys Tel a possibility to head the attack line, and several false nine options like Sadio Mane, Sane, and the red-hot Jamal Musiala.
For the home team, injuries have sidelined Lucas Hernandez, Kingsley Coman, and Bouna Sarr. Midfielder Pavel Bucha will be unavailable for Viktoria Plzen after he was dismissed from their previous Champions League match against Inter Milan.
Ales Cermak or Jan Kopic are the most likely replacements. It makes sense that the three-at-the-back formation is superior to the four-at-the-back against Barcelona given the superior performance of the three-at-the-back against Inter Milan.
- Bayern Munich possible starting lineup: Neuer, Davies, Upamecano, de Ligt, Pavard, Goretzka, Sabitzer, Sane, Musiala, Mane, Tel.
- Viktoria Plzen possible starting lineup: Stanek, Jemelka, Hejda, Pernica, Havel, Cermak, Kalvach, Sykora, Vikanova; Chory, Mosquera.
Our Prediction: Bayern Munich 4-0 Viktoria Plzen
An impressive performance is anticipated from Bayern Munich, particularly because they will be playing an important league match on Saturday evening.
Viktoria Plzen will go into this match to give a good account of themselves, but they are well aware that it is extremely improbable that they will take anything away from this match in Munich as a result of their efforts.
