Bayern Munich begins revamped UCL campaign against Dinamo Zagreb.
FC Bayern München vs
Dinamo Zagreb
In a UEFA Champions League opener filled with historical potential and managerial firsts, Bayern Munich's Vincent Kompany embarks on his European debut against Dinamo Zagreb, who aim to overcome their daunting record on German soil.
FC Bayern München
Bayern Munich will begin their European campaign this Tuesday with a game against Dinamo Zagreb on home turf. A 6-1 win over Bundesliga debutants at the weekend left the Bavarians at the top of the league table as the only side with a 100% winning record, having won all three Bundesliga games [WWW].
Vincent Kompany has since laid early worries about his ability to lead Bayern to a dominant domestic campaign to rest following his appointment in the summer. ‘Every coach always brings something new: new drive, new energy; there's always a bit of a fresh start,’ Gnabry recently said of the new boss.
On Tuesday, the 38-year-old will be making his UEFA Champions League debut as manager, when six-time UCL winners Bayern Munich welcome Zagreb in what will be their 17th successive appearance in the competition. While this will be the fifth meeting between both sides, Tuesday’s fixture remains heavily pregnant with low-hanging numerical milestones.
Hansi Flick, Niko Kovać, and Jürgen Klinsmann, who were the last three FCB coaches to make their Champions League debuts with Bayern Munich, all won with a clean sheet. While Vincent Kompany will be looking to follow similar lines, Harry Kane could equal Wayne Rooney's record as the Englishman with the most goals in the UCL when he leads the attack in the familiar 4–2–3–1.
Leroy Sané rejoined the squad at the weekend and will be among the many vying for a spot in the final third.
Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb are coming off the back of a narrow 1-0 loss to HNK Hajduk Split, which saw them slip to third place in the league standings. This defeat means the visitors have not won in their last two league games [WWWDL] as they prepare for Tuesday’s UCL league phase clash.
A visit to face Bayern on German soil could extend their winless streak, given their poor European record. Among the teams in the UCL to have played 50 or more matches, Dinamo Zagreb holds a winning percentage of just 13% [7W, 52G]. Their last visit to Bayern in the UEFA Champions League was a difficult outing, where they suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat.
Despite the odds, an unlikely top-eight finish among the 36 teams in the competition remains their ambition. Manager Sergej Jakirović, with a healthy squad at his disposal, is likely to use a 4-2-3-1 formation. Bruno Petković is expected to lead the attack for Dinamo Zagreb's maiden appearance in the revamped UCL competition.
