Champions League: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich Live
Preview: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich will come off at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night as the gunners take on the Bavarians in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final match. Arsenal overcame Porto in a penalty shootout to overcome their previous struggles in knockout stages, while Bayern Munich advanced to this stage with a comeback victory against Lazio, although their fans will not be present due to a firework incident.
The UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw has set up an interesting match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich, featuring Harry Kane’s return to North London for the first time since leaving Tottenham. After witnessing Mikel Arteta’s team convincingly defeat Brighton 3-0 on Saturday, Kane will have a good understanding of the challenge they pose. Arsenal, currently contending for the Premier League title, are on a seven-match unbeaten streak, including a penalty shootout victory over Porto to advance to this stage. Their solid defensive performance in Europe this season is evident as they have not conceded a goal in any Champions League home game so far.
After losing to Heidenheim 3-2 despite initially leading 2-0, the visitors will not taking anything for granted. They are currently 16 points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, making the UEFA Champions League their best chance for success this season. Despite their struggles in the domestic league, they showed their strength by overcoming a 1-0 first-leg loss to Lazio and winning 3-1 on aggregate, proving they are still a threat in Europe. Their only defeat in the competition since losing to Manchester City last season was against Lazio. Their loss to Manchester City is their only defeat in their last seven UEFA Champions League knockout away matches against English opponents, with four wins and two draws in the other games.
Head-to-head
Bayern Munich convincingly defeated Arsenal twice with 5-1 victories in the 2016/17 Champions League round of 16. The teams faced each other again in a friendly match in 2019, where Arsenal emerged victorious with a 2-1 score line.
Prediction
With their vulnerable underbelly now protected by strong armor, Arsenal supporters should not have to endure another 5-1 defeat from the German champions. This is especially true considering the challenging situation that Tuchel’s team is currently facing. When Kane faces Arsenal, the Gunners typically struggle to prevent goals, which could happen if the pressure of the quarter-finals affects Arteta’s team momentarily. However, the efficient hosts are expected to take advantage of Bayern Munich’s defensive weaknesses and lack of away support to secure a slight lead heading into the match in Munich.
