The second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie between Bayern Munich and Chelsea is expected to be a formality unless Frank Lampard’s side can script an unthinkable comeback in Bavaria.
The German champions smashed Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg in March and are odds on favourites to complete the job in Germany on Saturday night.
Chelsea’s season is likely to end in Bavaria but Lampard will look to salvage pride with a better performance in the second leg of the Champions League tie.
Chelsea will be back in the Champions League next season after finishing fourth in the league table but following losing the FA Cup final, they will be desperate to make sure that their season doesn’t end with another limp performance on the pitch.
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea: The path to the Round of 16
Group stage Bayern Munich:
18th September: Bayern Munich 3-0 Red Star Belgrade
1st October: Tottenham 2-7 Bayern Munich
22nd October: Olympiacos 2-3 Bayern Munich
6th November: Bayern Munich 2-0 Olympiacos
26th November: Red Star Belgrade 0-6 Bayern Munich
11th December: Bayern Munich 3-1 Tottenham
The German champions were in pristine form in the group stages of the 2019-20 Champions League campaign. They scored 24 goals in the six group games, including smashing seven past Tottenham in north London in one of the headline performances of this season’s Champions League.
Their performances in the group stages added meat to the suggestion that the Bavarians are one of the favourites to go all the way in the Champions League this season.
Group stage Chelsea:
17th September: Chelsea 0-1 Valencia
2nd October: Lille 1-2 Chelsea
23rd October: Ajax 0-1 Chelsea
5th November: Chelsea 4-4 Ajax
27th November: Valencia 2-2 Chelsea
10th December: Chelsea 2-1 Lille
Unlike Bayern Munich, Chelsea had to work hard to book a spot in the Round of 16. A home defeat against Valencia in their first game had them scrambling. They collected seven points from their next three games to revive their campaign, which included a 1-0 win at Ajax and a thrilling 4-4 draw at home against the same opposition.
A 2-2 draw at Valencia had them needing a win in their final group game against Lille in order to qualify for the next round and Frank Lampard’s side did manage to win 2-1 to finish second in the group behind the La Liga outfit.
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea: Head-to-head record and form guide
Bayern Munich and Chelsea met for the first time in the Champions League in the quarter-finals of the 2004-05 season. Chelsea won the home leg 4-2 with current Blues manager, Frank Lampard scoring a brace.
Bayern Munich won in Bavarian 3-2 but it was not enough to stop Chelsea from progressing in the competition.
Their next meeting came in 2012 in the Champions League final and Bayern Munich looked on their way to lifting the trophy when Thomas Muller scored in 83rd minute. But Chelsea grabbed a last gasp equaliser when Didier Drogba buried a header past Manuel Neuer.
The Blues managed to keep the German champions at bay in extra-time and won the final on penalties.
Bayern Munich returned the favour a year later when they won the UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea on penalties after the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Overall, the German champions have a 2-1 lead over Chelsea in games finishing in 90 minutes but the Champions League final in 2012 remains a headline result for the Blues.
Chelsea are coming into the game on the back of a disappointing result and performance against Arsenal in the FA Cup final. But the German champions are in pristine form and their last competitive game was a 4-2 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup final.
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea: Recent form
Bayern Munich results in the last five games in all competitions: W-W-W-W-W
Chelsea results in the last five games in all competitions: W-W-L-W-L
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea: Team news
Bayern Munich head coach, Hans-Dieter Flick has indicated that he will field a strong team at the weekend and so, expect Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowsky to start alongside Thomas Muller.
Kingsley Coman has been carrying a muscular problem and it could mean Ivan Perisic will return to the team. Benjamin Pavard has been ruled out due to an injury and that is likely to see Joshua Kimmich, so far used in a holding midfield role, return to the right-back slot.
Chelsea’s FA Cup final misery was compounded by the loss of three players – Christian Pulisic, Cesar Azpilicueta and Pedro – to injuries and the trio have been ruled out of the game.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Billy Gilmour will also be missing due to injuries and Marcos Alonso and Jorginho are suspended. Willian and N’Golo Kane remain doubtful to feature as well.
Frank Lampard’s big decision will be on the man between the sticks as the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga was dropped from the team in the last two games.
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea: Predicted XI
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Goretzka, Thiago; Gnabry, Muller, Perisic; Lewandowski
Chelsea possible (3-4-3): Caballero; Zouma, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Barkley, Kovacic, Emerson; Mount, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea: Prediction
Chelsea are reeling under the weight of injuries and the loss in the FA Cup final. With the first leg more or less deciding the tie, they have little else other than pride to play for in Bavaria.
However, with the pressure off, the Chelsea players can play with more freedom as there is very little to lose and no one expects to cause an upset against Bayern Munich.
But they are coming up against a well-oiled machine in Bayern Munich, who have been scoring goals for fun. With Chelsea struggling defensively all season, the scoreline could get ugly if the German champions find an early goal.
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea verdict: 3-0
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