Focus on Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal Clash

German giants Bayern Munich face an early test of their title credentials when they host English champions Arsenal tomorrow in Matchday 3 of the new league phase of the UEFA Champions League, but they will do so without their outstanding French winger Michael Olise.

Olise, who was born in London and began his career in Arsenal’s youth academy, is suspended after receiving two yellow cards within a single minute in Bayern’s disappointing 3-3 draw with Norwegian side Viking last week.

Bayern and the Gunners met in the quarter-finals of the 2023-2024 season, with Bayern advancing by a single goal margin, but they suffered a 3-1 defeat in the league phase of last season’s edition.

While Bayern’s comprehensive victory over Leipzig has once again demonstrated their superiority over domestic rivals, Arsenal presents a different kind of challenge, and Harry Kane and his teammates are looking forward to facing the team managed by Spaniard Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal, still smarting from their penalty shootout loss to French side Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s final, have started the season strongly, securing 10 wins in 11 matches across all competitions.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid aim to secure their third consecutive victory in the competition this season when they host Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Spanish club defeated Italian sides Inter and Roma in the league phase this season, while Leipzig have collected three points so far, following a loss to Como and a win against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.

The two teams have previously faced each other four times in the Champions League, with Real Madrid holding the upper hand with two wins to Leipzig’s one, while one match ended in a draw. Leipzig suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Como in their opening match of the tournament this season, before bouncing back with a 1-0 win against PSV Eindhoven in the previous round.

Real Madrid are missing Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy, and Raul Asensio due to injury, while Brazilian star Vinicius Junior returns to the squad, as his suspension applies only to domestic competitions. For Leipzig, Christoph Baumgartner and Assan Ouédraogo are sidelined through injury.

Manchester United hope to secure their first win since September 10 when they face hosts Como. The English club, winners of the domestic league 20 times, have three points from their first two matches in this edition of the Champions League, placing them 13th, behind 12th-placed Como, who have the same points total but a superior goal difference.

Managed by young Spaniard Cesc Fabregas, Como defeated Leipzig 4-1 but failed to maintain their winning streak, losing 3-2 to Dutch side Feyenoord Rotterdam in their second match last week.

Conversely, Manchester United began their league phase campaign this season with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Azerbaijani side Sabah, but they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in their second match of the competition.

United enter this match following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United in the domestic league, leaving them in 13th place with just seven points from their first seven matches of the season.

Inter host Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk at the San Siro, as the Italian club continues to search for their first points in the Champions League this season.

While the Italian giants suffered a surprising 4-3 defeat to Belgian visitors Club Brugge in the previous round, after also losing their opening match to Real Madrid, Shakhtar have kept a clean sheet regarding defeats, following a 3-1 win against Greek visitors AEK Athens last week.

The round also features several other key matches the day after tomorrow, as French side Lille hosts Turkish club Galatasaray, English side Aston Villa faces Norwegian side Viking, Belgian club Club Brugge takes on French side Lens, Spanish side Real Betis plays Dutch side Feyenoord, and Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon hosts Austrian side LASK Linz.