1 Aston Villa vs 0 FC Bayern München
Aston Villa take on Bayern Munich on UCL Match Day 2.
Aston Villa will face a daunting challenge as they host six-time UCL champions Bayern Munich at Villa Park on Wednesday, October 2, with both teams eager to build on their strong starts in this year's Champions League campaign.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are back in the Champions League after a commendable 3-0 win over Young Boys on the opening day of the competition. This debut victory propelled them to a spot in the top five, having earned three points alongside 14 other teams.
Villa now faces perhaps the toughest test of the season yet, as they welcome Bayern Munich to Villa Park for UCL Match Day 2. This will be the second-ever meeting between the two sides, with Villa winning the 1982 European Cup final 1-0 against the German team to secure their only major European title.
A 2-2 draw with Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town saw Villa's remarkable four-game winning run across all competitions come to an end. Although Villa have an even record against German opposition with 2 wins, 0 draws, and 2 losses, they will be hoping to achieve back-to-back victories when they face six-time UCL champions Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
"We have to compete, prepare for the match, and try to get our performance in the Champions League playing against teams like Bayern Munich," said Unai Emery. "This is our next challenge," he added.
Ollie Watkins, who netted his fourth domestic goal in six appearances at the weekend, is expected to feature prominently at the attacking end of Unai Emery’s 4-4-1-1 formation.
FC Bayern München
After picking up the biggest win in UEFA Champions League history with a 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb, Bayern Munich are looking to remain at the top of the league phase table. The Bavarians recently drew 1-1 in a Bundesliga blockbuster clash against current German champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern Munich have a strong record against English sides in the UEFA Champions League, with only one loss in their last 10 meetings. That sole defeat was a 0-3 to Manchester City in the 2022-23 quarter-final first leg.
However, recent form on the road has been a concern for Bayern in the Champions League, as they are winless in their last three away matches (0W, 1D, 2L). This could pose a challenge for achieving back-to-back UCL victories.
A 4-2-3-1 formation with Thomas Müller in attack may be deployed after Harry Kane's ankle injury in the 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. The Englishman made history on UCL match day 1 by becoming the first player to score a hattrick of penalties in the competition.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.