Villarreal vs Bayern Munich
UEFA Champions League
Date: Wednesday, 6 April 2022
Kick-off at 20:00 UK/ 21:00 CET
Venue: Estadio de la Ceramica.
Bayern Munich will resume their UEFA Champions League campaign on Wednesday when they face Villarreal in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
The UEFA Champions League quarter-finals are ready to begin this week, with Bayern Munich, one of the tournament favorites, kicking off their campaign on Wednesday by traveling to El Madrigal to face Villarreal in the first leg.
The Bavarians are coming off an emphatic 8-2 aggregate victory over Red Bull Salzburg in the Round of 16 stage, and will be heavy favorites to advance to the quarter-finals.
On the domestic front, they have shown signs of inconsistency, especially after back-to-back draws with Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim last month.
Bayern Munich, on the other hand, appears to have overcome their adversity, having kicked off their season with a resounding 4-1 victory over SC Freiburg over the weekend.
Julian Nagelsmann will be looking for a repeat performance against a Villarreal side who shocked Juventus in the last round.
Indeed, owing to a resounding 3-0 victory in the second leg, the defending Europa League champions defeated the Italian giants 4-1 on aggregate.
It was an odd result given that the team has mainly failed domestically, with only one win in their last four league games.
Villarreal are now in seventh place in La Liga, and a big turnaround is required to finish in the top four.
However, Unai Emery’s side should not be deterred from putting up a great battle against Bayern Munich this midweek as we prepare for an interesting match.
Villarreal vs Bayern Munich Head to head :
- The latest encounter had ended in a 3-1 win for the Bavarians.
- They have a 100% winning record against this foe.
- They have scored two or more goals in 100% of meetings till now.
- The Bavarians had scored three or more goals in four of their former six clashes against other Spanish squads.
Villarreal vs Bayern Munich Prediction :
Bayern Munich should have little trouble dealing with the Villarreal fans, as they are used to doing well away from home.
The Bavarians have a strong record against Spanish clubs, and with key players like Leon Goretzka, Alphonso Davies, and Manuel Neuer back in the lineup, it’s difficult to see anything other than a win for Julian Nagelsmann’s team.
Knowing Villarreal has enough firepower to stun the Germans, a lot could hinge on how they approach this game defensively. In that regard, Arnaut Danjuma’s performance could be crucial in determining the hosts’ fate.
Villarreal vs Bayern Munich Team News :
Villarreal are still missing Alberto Moreno, who has been sidelined for a long time owing to a ruptured cruciate ligament, and Boulaye Dia and Samuel Chukwueze are both doubtful for the first leg.
Dia was left out of the team for the match against Levante owing to a muscle problem, while Chukwueze is recovering from an adductor injury received during the international break, thus Arnaut Danjuma and Gerard Moreno will lead the line.
The manner of Villarreal’s defeat to Levante may persuade Emery to make a few changes, especially because Serge Aurier and Pervis Estupinan both started in Juventus’ 3-0 victory.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s Corentin Tolisso suffered an injury just 23 minutes after coming on as a substitute against Freiburg, and he is expected to miss several weeks with a torn thigh muscle.
Although Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is COVID-positive, he is nursing a knee injury, and Alphonso Davies has stated that he plans to return from myocarditis in the weekend’s match against Augsburg, he is part of the traveling party for this one.
Tanguy Nianzou started against Freiburg, but Niklas Sule’s experience at the back may be favored this week, forcing Nagelsmann to leave one of Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, or Kingsley Coman on the bench. Due to tendon issues, Bouna Sarr has also been ruled out.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Aurier, Albiol, Torres, Estupinan; Pino, Parejo, Capoue, Trigueros; Danjuma, Moreno
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Pavard, Sule, Upamecano, Hernandez; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Muller, Coman; Lewandowski
