Headline-makers are storylines from yesteryear are everywhere in the Champions League this midweek, as Barcelona host Bayern Munich in the third matchday.
By Karl Matchett
Both teams are looking dominant domestically, but with matters to prove on the continent. The biggest factor is set to be in the dugout, though, with Hansi Flick facing his former club having shown a capacity to deal with setbacks at his new side already – as well as make them look a formidable attacking outfit once more.
Flick has Barcelona top of LaLiga, free-scoring as a team but led by a re-energised Robert Lewandowski. The Pole already has two in two in Europe, but also 12 in ten domestically. He has his killer touch in front of goal back, but the buildup play around him is arguably the biggest improvement Flick has made on the team.
Despite a host of injuries to contend with, a string of youngsters and rejuvenated senior players have raised their game considerably – perhaps none more so than Raphinha. The Brazilian has even worn the captain’s armband this term, such has been his impact: only Lewandowski has scored more, only Lamine Yamal has assisted more than him. He has created a team-high 13 big chances – nobody in the Bayern side has fashioned more than four in the Bundesliga, albeit they’ve played fewer matches thus far.
Bayern themselves have been attacking at will and scoring plenty – 3.4 per league game is slightly above Barca’s 3.3 – but it’s still hard to see them troubling Barcelona quite as frequently, if nothing else because of how they struggled to really break down Aston Villa last time out in Europe.
Vincent Kompany has yet to prove himself on a tactical level as being among the game’s finest, and Flick will be backed to come up with a game plan to keep the best of Bayern away from dangerous areas. The returning Gavi and Frenkie de Jong give the Catalan outfit more options to control the game in midfield, and if it turns into a shootout…well, Bayern are scoring lots, but they’ve created 26 big chances so far in the league – 3.7 a game. Barcelona are at 50, equating to five a match.
Ultimately, this new format is set up so that the biggest and best teams – certainly the best attacks – have all the chance in the world of progression, be it in the top eight or with a playoff later. Both sides will surely then progress – but Flick might be looking to put a marker down now for later in the competition regardless.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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