Barcelona vs Bayern Munich predicted line-ups and team news for Champions League GW3 showdown | OneFootball

Barcelona host Bayern Munich in the league phase of the Champions League at 20:00 BST on Wednesday, October 23, at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium.

The match will be broadcast in the UK on TNT Sports 5.

Team news:

Barca are without Ronald Araujo (thigh), Andreas Christensen (Achilles), Marc Bernal (knee) and Ferran Torres (hamstring). Elsewhere, Frenkie de Jong is a fitness doubt as he continues to work his way back from an ankle injury, featuring just twice this season.

However, fellow midfielder Gavi returned off the bench in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Sevilla, playing the final seven minutes plus stoppage time after almost a year out with a knee injury and could get another run.

The Bayern quintet of Sacha Boey (meniscus), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal), Josip Stanisic (knee), Tarek Buchmann (match fitness), Aleksandar Pavlovic (collarbone) are sidelined.

Jamal Musiala’s participation is uncertain due to a hip issue, so Thomas Muller, who has scored eight times in nine appearances against Barca, could start.

Left-footed Raphael Guerreiro is again expected to start at right-back, although Konrad Laimer is another option. The Austrian may also slot into midfield, however, with Joshua Kimmich dropping into defence.

Bayern boss Vincent Kompany has something to prove vs Barcelona

There will be a feeling of friends reunited on Montjuic. Former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and the coach who guided the German giants to their most recent Champions League victory in 2020, Hansi Flick, lead Barcelona into battle.

Lewandowski produced mixed returns in his first two seasons after swapping Bavaria for Barca, but has been rejuvenated under his former mentor.

The Pole’s 12 goals in 10 games has helped propel the Blaugrana to the top of La Liga. He also netted twice in his team’s last European game, a 5-0 win over Young Boys.

Bayern destroyed Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 in their Champions League opener. However, Vincent Kompany, still a relative rookie in the dugout, was then outmanoeuvred by Unai Emery in his team’s subsequent 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

The six-time European champions sit top of the Bundesliga, tied with RB Leipzig on 17 points but with a superior goal difference.

After being outdone by Emery, Kompany has something to prove against Flick, although the German himself will need to remain focused during what is a massive week for him and his side.

Away defeats to Monaco and Osasuna are the sole blips on his short reign and after the chaos of predecessor Xavi’s time in charge, things have been relatively calm.

However, this match against Bayern precedes Saturday’s first El Clasico of the season away at Real Madrid and may show the 59-year-old exactly where his side sits in the wider context.