UEFA Champions League 2021-22: Bayern Munich vs Villarreal Preview, Team News, Possible Line-Ups, and Predictions
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Bayern Munich will be locking horns against Spanish side Villarreal in the first leg of the Champions League 2021-22 quarter-finals this Thursday at the El Madrigal Stadium, Villarreal. Here is what is all to know and expect from this fixture-
Bayern Munich vs Villarreal: Preview
Bayern Munich will certainly be entering this fixture as the favorites. The Bavarian giants are the highest-scoring European side this season netting 85 goals in the Bundesliga and also topping the charts for European competitions. They have performed considerablly well winning the competition in 2020.
Villarreal, on the other hand, are the underdogs to this fixture and will have to get creative as well as physical at the same time leveraging the home advantage. It will be the first time Villarreal are competing in the quarter-finals of the competition since April 2009 when they faced Arsenal.
Bayern Munich: Possible line-up
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Manuel Neuer
Defense: B. Pavard, N.Sule, D. Upemecano, A. Davies
Midfield: J. Kimmich, J. Musiala
Attack: Serge Gnabry, T. Muller, K. Coman, R. Lewandowski,
Injuries/Suspensions:B. Sarr, C. Tolliso
Player to watch: Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski has been better than ever, leading the European and Bundesliga charts yet again. His prolific goal-scoring abilities will surely be the biggest threat to Villarreal.
Villarreal: Possible lineup
Formation: 4-4-1-1
GK: G. Rulli
Defence: Aurier, Albiol (c), Torres, Estupinan
midfield: Chukwueze, Capoue, Parejo, Trigueros
attack: G. Lo Celso, Danjuma
Injuries/Suspensions: A. Moreno
Player to watch: Raul Albiol
The Villarreal captain, Raul Albiol, has been a pivotal part in keeping the strikers at bay during intense matchups and has made key interceptions and passes for the Yellow Submarines in the recent past. Interestingly, he has been doing all this at the age of 36 years.
Bayern Munich vs Villarreal: Prediction
Bayern Munich is definitely the clear favorite advancing into this fixture and thus, commands a lot of confidence and experience. Meanwhile, Villarreal is still naive, considering that even for Unai Emery this will be the first time when he will be managing a quarter-final tie in the Champions League.
Still, the Spanish underdogs must not be underestimated as they won the Europa League title last season and have registered victories against the likes of Juventus and Atlanta in a rather convincing fashion. The most appropriate outcome for Villarreal seems to be to deprive the Bavarians of any goal-scoring opportunities and bag at least a goal at home.
Still taking into consideration Bayern’s form and Villarreal’s inconsistency, a comfortable 3-0 victory for the Bavarians is a safe bet.
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Thomas Savio Joseph
(51 Articles Published)