After being winless in three successive games, mighty German champions Bayern Munich will be looking to get back on track when they face Dutch Champions PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday as the Champions League football gets back underway.
The Bavarian Champions were expected to win group D but after two games, Bayern found themselves in second place with four points in two games. Having thrashed newcomers FC Rostov 5:0 on the opening matchday, Die Bayern once again failed to find answers against Diego Simeone’s rigid defensive system of Atletico Madrid. Yannick Carrasco’s low accurate drive in the first half proved to be the difference between the two sides.
PSV, on the other hand, are desperately looking for a win after an underwhelming performance against Rostov in matchday two, where they missed loads of chances including a missed penalty.
Previously, these two teams have met on six occasions, in which Bayern unsurprisingly hold the upper hand with four wins, a draw and a loss. PSV, however, won the most recent meeting. In the 1999/2000 first group stage, Luc Nilis and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored as the visitors finished with ten men after Jens Jeremies’ dismissal. PSV, who came bottom of the group, had lost 2-1 in Munich, where Paulo Sérgio scored twice and Mark van Bommel was sent off for the Dutch side.
Team News
Arjen Robben (ribs) and Javi Martínez (adductors) missed October’s European Qualifiers because of injury. However, Robben started – and scored – against Frankfurt while Martínez is back in training. Holger Badstuber (13 February, ankle and muscular problems) has resumed team training and was on the bench against Frankfurt. Franck Ribéry missed the Frankfurt game due to muscular problems and is not expected to return until the end of October.
As for PSV, Mexican midfielder Andrés Guardado (hamstring) and Luuk de Jong (concussion) suffered knocks against Heerenveen, ruling them out of international duty. However, De Jong played all of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Heracles Almelo and Guardado was an unused substitute. Luciano Narsingh also featured at the weekend despite returning early from Netherlands duty with a groin injury.
Jorrit Hendrix (knee) and Jürgen Locadia (groin) have both been sidelined.
Match Facts (UEFA.COM)
Bayern
• Ancelotti started his reign with eight consecutive wins before the defeat to Atlético on matchday two. Bayern then suffered their first Bundesliga setback this season, being held 1-1 at home to 1. FC Köln. They also drew, 2-2 at Eintracht Frankfurt, on Saturday.
• Lewandowski, who came off the bench against Frankfurt, has scored 14 goals in his last 13 games for club and country. He has now scored 126 goals in 201 Bundesliga appearances (74/131 for Borussia Dortmund; 52/70 for Bayern).
• Kimmich has scored six goals in his last seven outings for Bayern.
PSV
• PSV are 22 matches unbeaten away from home in all competitions (W17 D5, including the 2016 Dutch Super Cup), since their 2-0 loss at VfL Wolfsburg on 21 October 2015, a matchday three fixture.
• Davy Pröpper has scored four goals in PSV’s last five matches.
• Summer signing Siem de Jong lined up alongside brother Luuk for the first time at club level on 1 October as PSV drew 1-1 at SC Heerenveen. That result ended PSV’s Eredivisie run of 13 straight away victories.
Predicted Lineups
FC Bayern: (4-3-3 formation) Manuel Neuer; Philip Lahm, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, David Alaba; Thiago, Arturo Vidal, Joshua Kimmich; Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller
PSV Eindhoven: (4-2-3-1 formation) Jeroen Zoet; Joshua Brenet, Hector Moreno, Daniel Schwaab, Jetro Willems; Bart Ramseelar, Davy Pröpper; Santiago Arias, Siem De Jong, Luciano Narsingh; Luuk De Jong
