Barcelona welcome Bayern Munich to the Camp Nou tonight as they strive to avoid an early Champions League elimination.
Robert Lewandowski’s stoppage-time equaliser in Barca’s 3-3 draw against Inter Milan two weeks ago was just enough to keep the LaLiga side in the competition.
But Xavi’s side’s hopes are still slim and they are now on the brink of an exit in the group stage for the second year in a row.
If Inter beat Viktoria Plzen in the earlier kick-off, Barcelona will be confirmed to finish in third place and will drop down the Europa League no matter what their result is.
They face Bayern who will be out to continue their 100 percent record so far in Europe this season and secure top spot in Group C.
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich: talkSPORT coverage
This Champions League clash will take place on Wednesday, October 26.
Kick-off at the Camp Nou is scheduled for 8pm.
talkSPORT 2 will be providing live coverage of the game with commentary from Ian Danter and former England defender Danny Mills.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich: Team news
Barcelona will be without centre-backs Ronaldo Araujo and Andreas Christensen who are both sidelined with injuries.
Memphis Depay is carrying a knock and could miss out for the hosts while Sergi Roberto is also injured.
As for Bayern, their goalscorers from the reverse fixture, Lucas Hernandez and Leroy Sane, are both expected to be unavailable.
Manuel Neuer is also ruled out due to injury while former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is likely to start on Wednesday.
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich: What has been said?
Barca boss Xavi is keeping up hope despite his side’s small chance of getting through.
He said: “It’s not a miracle that we are asking for. There is still some small hope.
“There are always uncertainties when you are depending on other results. It’s an uncomfortable situation. But we have to go out and play the game.
“These things happen in football. And why can’t something happen tomorrow? It’s not in our hands, but there is still a small hope.
“We should never lose that hope. It’s a shame we didn’t get points in Munich or Milan. This competition has been cruel to us. We can only wait and see what happens.”
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich: Match facts
- All four of Leroy Sané’s goals in the UEFA Champions League this season have been scored following a carry (moving 5+ metres with the ball); the most by any player in the competition this term.
- Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka has been directly involved in five goals in his last two matches in the UEFA Champions League (two goals, three assists), as many as he was in his 21 appearances in the competition beforehand combined.
- Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has scored 52 goals in 53 home games in the UEFA Champions League (38 for Bayern Munich, nine for Borussia Dortmund and five for Barcelona). His five goals at the Spotify Camp Nou for his current club is the most ever by a Barcelona player in his first two home games in the competition.
- No team have scored more goals with 10+ passes in the build-up than Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League this season (3), with one of those coming in the reverse fixture against Barcelona at the Allianz Arena last month.
- If Bayern Munich win this game, it will be just the fifth time that Barcelona have been beaten twice by the same team in a UEFA Champions League campaign. Indeed, Bayern have been responsible for three of the previous four (1998-99, 2012-13 and 2021-22), with Dynamo Kyiv being the only other side to manage it (in 1997-98).
- Barcelona could be eliminated in the group stage in consecutive UEFA Champions League campaigns for just the second time, having previously done so in 1997-98 and 1998-99 under Louis van Gaal.
- Bayern have only suffered defeat on one of their previous five away trips to face Spanish sides in the UEFA Champions League (W2 D2), although that loss did come on the most recent one – 0-1 v Villarreal in last season’s quarter-final first leg.
- Barcelona have lost their last two home games against German opponents in European competition – 0-3 v Bayern Munich in September 2021 in the UEFA Champions League and 2-3 v Eintracht Frankfurt in April this year in the UEFA Europa League. They have never previously lost three in a row at home to German opposition.
- Bayern Munich have won three of their five away UEFA Champions League matches against Barcelona (L2), the most of any side in the competition’s history. Along with Juventus and Real Madrid, they are one of three teams to have won more than they’ve lost away at Barça in the Champions League.
- Barcelona have lost nine of their 12 UEFA Champions League matches against Bayern Munich (W2 D1), including the last five in a row. Only Bayern Munich themselves against Real Madrid (10) have lost more games against a single opponent in Champions League history.
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News Summary:
- Barcelona vs Bayern Munich LIVE commentary: Barca on brink of Champions League group stage elimination for second consecutive year
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