Bayern to blast away Barcelona in own backyard
The first round of the UEFA Champions League group fixtures commences on Tuesday evening, and perhaps the most high profile and potentially explosive offering could be at the Camp Nou in Barcelona. The hosts had their league fixture with Sevilla postponed at the weekend because of the ongoing kerfuffle over European clubs' reluctance to release players to South American nations, owing in large part to the various Covid restrictions different governments have surrounding incoming people. Meanwhile, their opponents Bayern Munich destroyed Bundesliga title rivals RB Leipzig away from home, putting Die Roten Bullen to the sword by four goals to one. Confidence is extremely high in the visitors' camp, and their extra squad depth on the bench could be crucial. Read our preview here:
de Jong duo
The list of unavailable players on Ronald Koeman's roster is already far longer than he'd like just a month into the new campaign, and that's even putting aside the registration issues the club had up to the final moments of the summer transfer window. Martin Braithwaite has now joined the massed ranks on the treatment table, which should facilitate a start in a central striker role for Luuk de Jong. The 31 year old target man has arguably only had real success in his native home the Netherlands, and the free transfer from the weekend's would-be opponents is representative of the financial hole his new employers find themselves in. However, he should have ample service over the course of the term with Memphis Depay and Phillipe Coutinho alongside him, even if the latter has consistently flattered to deceive since arriving in Catalonia four years ago. Further back in midfield, namesake Frenkie de Jong will have the run of the left half-space in red and blue, leaving Jordi Alba to look for early crossing opportunities from deep.
Casting call for Jamal
Whilst Robert Lewandowski has a characteristic quickfire beginning to 2021/2022, more and more focus and praise are being lavished on youngster Jamal Musiala. After toing and froing in the underage categories between birth nation Germany and England (where he lived from the age of seven up to his capture by FC Hollywood), the dynamic winger opted for Die Mannschaft back in February, and has represented them on eight occasions to date, despite still only being 18. Whilst not the finished article, he has been instrumental in Julian Nagelsmann's strategy of stretching their opponents both on the break and in open play, as was witnessed to excellent effect at in Leipzig. Serge Gnabry could be in his place initially if he can shake off a knock, but the former's presence would definitely make Jordi Alba's forays forward much more infrequent, not forgetting the ridiculous pace of Alphonso Davies on the other flank.
Jubilant Julian
Though Barça's woes off the pitch are extremely high-profile and pronounced, they have largely been able to mask them on it, with a relatively kind opening set of fixtures in La Liga. Bayern however have looked at their ruthless best even against tough opposition, and the hosts cannot afford to ball behind early on. Parimatch have odds of 2.00 for an away win that would make the giants immediate favourites to qualify in top spot from the pool.
