While Premier League duo Manchester City and Liverpool are being fancied to battle it out for the Champions League trophy this season, Bayern Munich might be happy to go somewhat under the radar.
English sides have dominated places in the finals in recent years, but in this campaign, Bayern looks like they have the quality and experience to add a seventh European Cup to their trophy cabinet at the Allianz Arena this season.
Premier League Giants: The Ones To Stop
Looking back on the last four Champions League finals, of the eight teams that featured in those showpiece games, five of them were English clubs.
Despite suffering defeat to Chelsea in last season’s final, it’s Pep Guardiola’s City who are 12/5 favorites in the Champions League Betting to lift the trophy this term. Based on their performances in the lead-up to the quarter-finals, it’s understandable why the likes of City and Liverpool are being tipped to compete at the latter stage of the tournament.
The Citizens edged out big-spenders Paris Saint-Germain to finish top of Group A, while Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid, Porto, and AC Milan home and away to finish top of Group B.
While the limelight might well be on the two sides who are also challenging for the Premier League title this season, Bayern has also been extremely impressive in Europe this term. Like Liverpool, Bayern won all of their group games in a pool that included Barcelona, Benfica, and Dynamo Kyiv.
What was most imposing about Julian Nagelsmann’s side was that they only conceded three goals in their six games, while scoring an impressive 22 at the other end.
This Bayern side knows what it takes to win the Champions League, with many of the current squad lifting the trophy back in 2020 after a 1-0 win over PSG in the final. There are certainly signs this season they are capable of repeating the feat this time around.
Lewandowski Holds The Key
A player who only seems to be getting better with age, Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski, looks like he could hold the key to Champions League success for the Bavarian giants this season.
A first-half hat-trick in a 7-1 demolition of RB Salzburg in the last-16 stage of the competition shows exactly the level Lewandowski is playing at. Amid his strong performances, there has been plenty of speculation regarding the Poland international’s future and whether he will be lured away from the Allianz Arena this summer.
If this season is to be his last with the Bundesliga giants, then Lewwandowksi will be eager to finish his time in Bavaria on a high. Another Champions League title would be the perfect send-off and with the Polish striker’s goals and the team’s mean defense, Bayern will take some stopping to be denied the European crown this season.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.