Plzen Vs Bayern Munich Match Preview and Prediction

By John



 


Czech First League leaders Viktoria Plzeň couldn't have been drawn in a tougher UEFA Champions League (UCL) group, competing alongside Barcelona, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich as they seek to progress through the UCL group stage for the first time ever Unsurprisingly given the gulf in quality, Plzeň 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.

Conceding five against Bayern in the reverse H2H (L 5:0) certainly hasn't helped that tally, but by his own admission, Plzeň boss Michal Bilek admitted the quality the German giants possess was simply "out of their reach". Each of Plzen's 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, but at this stage even that appears unlikely for the Czech side.

Letting a two goal lead slip to rivals Borussia Dortmund in a 2-2 Bundesliga draw at the weekend is hardly ideal preparation for Bayern, who now find themselves four points behind surprise league leaders Union Berlin. However, the German juggernauts know victory here, coupled with Barcelona failing to beat Inter, would secure their safe passage to the UCL knockouts, and considering they're unbeaten in 31 UCL group stage games (W28, D3), you may fancy Bayern to hold 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. The prospects appear solid given Bayern's previous trips to Plzeň have each seen 1-0 victories, and with Bayern one of only two sides in the UCL group stages yet to concede a goal, a successful night could very well be on the cards for Julian Nagelsmann's side.

Players to watch: With three UCL qualification goals to his name this term, Jan Kliment could be the man to end Plzeň's UCL scoring drought after he returned to action at the weekend. Meanwhile, Bayern's Leroy Sané has been involved in 16 goals in his last 13 UCL appearances (G10, A6), and has also scored in all three UCL games this season.

Hot stat: Plzeň have never kept a clean sheet in a UCL proper home game.

Fottennis Prediction: Plzen 1 Bayern Munich 3

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