Hopes at Barcelona rest on Luis Suarez (left) and Lionel Messi. © APA / afp / MANU FERNANDEZ
On Friday, FC Bayern and FC Barcelona will also start the Champions League final in Lisbon.
14. August 2020
This duel is the clear quarter-final hit: They are the only CL winners in the field. And the winner of the previous three knockout round duels also won the title – Barcelona in 2009 and 2015, and Bayern in 2013.
They are now going into a game as a slight favorite that gives the Spaniards the chance to save a messed up season with a title. Bayern won 22 of 23 games in 2020 in a draw. In the CL round of 16 last Saturday they gave Chelsea another 4-1 rebuff after their 3-0 first leg.
The eleventh duel between the two teams (6 Bayern wins, 2 draws, 2 wins from Barca) will probably also be a duel between the two German goalkeepers Manuel Neuer (Bayern) and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but above all between offensive stars Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi. Much depends on which of the two has the better day: With 53 goals in 44 season games, Lewandowski is the absolute guarantee of success.
Can Bayern stop Messi?
But Barcelona has Messi, the often alien. To stop the little Argentine is a task that many teams have failed to accomplish. Not only recently Napoli, who lost 3-1 after a 1-1 draw in the first leg last Saturday in Barcelona – “the Flea” scored a goal and got a penalty. Also Bayern with Messi expert Pep Guardiola in the last duel in 2015, when Messi twice fooled the Munich defense in the 3-0 first leg and was able to overcome Neuer.
Bayern were in a good mood during the final training session. © APA / afp / MANU FERNANDEZ
Stop messi? “I think it only works as a collective,” replied Bayern midfield player Leon Goretzka. The young Alphonso Davies, who had to pass due to an injury in training and is now fit again, is particularly challenged as a nominally direct opponent. “But we also know that there are a lot more stars at Barcelona than just Messi,” said Goretzka – for example the offensive aces Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann. “We know it’s difficult,” said the latter in an interview on the Barca website, “but we also know that it will have the quality to qualify for the semifinals”.
Vidal taunts against the Bundesliga
The former FC Bayern professional Arturo Vidal from FC Barcelona has announced a declaration of war. “Bayern are very self-confident. You have already won two titles this season. But tomorrow they won’t play against a Bundesliga opponent, but against FC Barcelona, ”said the 33-year-old Chile at a virtual press conference.
Champions League, quarter-finals
Friday (9 p.m.):
Bayern Munich – FC Barcelona
Saturday (9 p.m.):
Manchester City – Olympique Lyon
Already played:
Atalanta – PSG 1: 2
RB Leipzig – Atletico Madrid 2:1
Author: dl / apa
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