Stamford Bridge gets its first taste of Champions League football in the new decade as Chelsea take on Bayern Munich in the round of 16. Our preview has team news and betting tips. Bet on the Champions League here.
Chelsea have the opportunity to build on Saturday’s impressive win over Tottenham when they welcome Bayern Munich to Stamford Bridge tonight. The Europa League holders are seeking a first win in the knockout stages since April 2014. For Bayern, it will be an opportunity to stage a proper tilt at glory after they were eliminated by Liverpool a year ago without the chance to build momentum.
This Bayern side are yet to put a foot wrong in the Champions League in 2019/20. The Bavarians won all six of their games in the group stages, a run which included a trip to London where they recorded a 7-2 victory over Tottenham.
You would have to go back as far as September 2017 to witness Bayern’s last away defeat in the competition. Can Chelsea inflict another upon them tonight?
Betting preview
Bayern have a perfect record in the Champions League this term, scoring 24 times. They have not lost away from home in the competition since September 2017, 12 games ago. In contrast, Chelsea have not won any of their last eight matches in the knockout phase. Back a Bayern Win at odds of 1.95.
There have been Over 2.5 Goals in four of Chelsea’s last five games in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Bayern have scored a total of 30 goals across their last ten away games in the Champions League, an average of three per game. Eight of their last ten Champions League games have featured Over 2.5 Goals. Odds of 1.60 are available for Over 2.5 Goals.
Bayern Munich have scored in 11 of the 12 halves of football they have played in the Champions League this season and have outscored the opposition in ten of those. The only halves in which they have failed to win were the first halves of their two games against Olympiakos. You can find odds of 1.45 for Away to Win either half.
Robert Lewandowski is joint-top of the scoring charts in this season’s competition with ten goals. He has found the net in each of his five appearances to date and has six goals in his last five games in all competitions. Get odds of 1.70 for him to be an Anytime Scorer.
Team news
Frank Lampard must decide whether to recall Tammy Abraham to his starting 11 after the England striker missed Chelsea’s recent outings. Should Abraham be unready, it is likely that Olivier Giroud will lead the line.
Leon Goretzka is expected to sit out tonight’s game so Hans-Dieter Flick could continue with the 3-4-3 formation he used in Friday’s win over Paderborn. Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman were only introduced as substitutes in that game, while Benjamin Pavard and Jerome Boateng were rested altogether.
Possible teams
Chelsea: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma, James, Barkley, Kovacic, Alonso, Willian, Giroud, Mount
Bayern: Neuer, Kimmich, Boateng, Hernandez, Pavard, Thiago, Tolisso, Davies, Gnabry, Lewandowski, Coutinho