Bayern Munich will look to maintain their perfect start to the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League campaign when they travel to the Czech Republic to face Czech First League leaders Viktoria Plzeň.
Venue: Doosan Arena (Plzen)
Key Statistics
Viktoria Plzen have conceded 12 goals – the most of any club in the UCL group stage this term ahead of the round.
They have scored only one goal in the UCL this term.
Plzeň have never kept a clean sheet in a UCL proper home game.
The hosts have kept three clean sheets in their last four home games.
Bayern Munich are unbeaten in 31 UCL group-stage games (W28, D3).
The Bavarians have won their last ten UCL group-stage games.
The visitors are one of only two sides in the UCL group stages yet to concede a goal (alongside Club Brugge).
Head to head
Bayern Munich have a predictably flawless record against Viktoria Plzen and have won all five matches that have been played between the two teams.
Latest performances in all competitions
Viktoria Plzen: W-L-D-W-L
Bayern Munich: D-W-W-L-W
Viktoria Plzen
Having been drawn into the toughest group of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage, Czech First League leaders Viktoria Plzeň have performed how most predicted they will perform.
The hosts are competing alongside Barcelona, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich in this year’s UCL group stage and have so far, given the gulf in quality, taken zero points from the three teams.
They find themselves rock-bottom of Group C (L3) having conceded 12 goals – the most of any club in the UCL group stage this term ahead of the round. Their quest to progress through the UCL group stage for the first time ever has almost ended considering that they welcome a Bayern team that beat them 5-0 last time out.
Conceding five against the Bavarians made Plzeň boss Michal Bílek admit that the quality the German giants possess was simply “out of their reach”. They will now welcome the Bundesliga champions to Czech Republic looking to record at least a point that will keep their chances of finishing in third place alive given that second-placed Barcelona are just three points ahead.
They can be confident of achieving that given that each of their three UCL group participations prior have at least resulted in a third-place finish and the consolation prize of a transfer to the UEFA Europa League.
Possible Plzen starting line-up
Marian Tvrdon; Libor Holik, Ludek Pernica, Mohamed Tijani, Milan Havel; Pavel Bucha, Lukas Kalvach; Jan Kopic, Jhon Mosquera, Adam Vlkanova; Tomas Chory.
Injured: Reznik, Jan Sykora
Doubtful: Lukas Hejda, Stanek
Suspended: None
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich’s wobbly form in the Bundesliga continued over the weekend as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Borussia Dortmund.
Despite leading the game by two goals until the 73rd minute, the Bavarians conceded two late goals, with Anthony Modeste’s 95th-minute goal the decisive goal that ensured that both teams shared the spoils in the game.
The result means that the Bavarians trail the surprise Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin by four points after nine rounds of league games. But despite their indifferent form in the domestic league, Julian Nagelsmann’s men have been impeccable in the UEFA Champions League.
They sit top of their group after three rounds of games having won all three games without conceding a goal. They are alongside Club Brugge, the only side yet to concede a goal in the group stage of the UCL this season.
They can seal their place in the next round of the UCL with a win here, coupled with Barcelona failing to beat Inter in the other Group C fixture.
Considering that they are unbeaten in 31 UCL group stage games (W28, D3), Bayern will fancy their chances of at least holding up their end of the bargain here.
That unbeaten streak is already an outright UCL record in itself, and with the last ten of those being victories, Bayern could write themselves into UCL folklore here should they win an 11th-straight group game.
Possible Bayern Munich starting line-up
Manuel Neuer; Noussair Mazraoui, Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Josip Stanisic; Joshua Kimmich, Ryan Gravenberch, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane, Sadio Mane; Thomas Muller.
Injured: Alphonso Davies, Bouna Sarr, Lucas Hernández, Jamal Musiala
Doubtful: Matthijs de Ligt
Suspended: None
Prediction
Plzen 0-4 Bayern Munich
