Bayern Munich is gearing up for their 17th consecutive UEFA Champions League campaign as they prepare to face Dinamo Zagreb at Allianz Arena. Despite no longer being the defending Bundesliga champions, Bayern is eager to make a strong start against the Croatian champions.
The Germans have a remarkable record in the Champions League, having never failed to reach the last 16 in their 17 straight appearances. They are currently unbeaten in 40 group stage matches, winning 36 of them. Last season, they had a 17-game winning streak until a home draw with Copenhagen. Bayern managed to advance past Lazio and Arsenal before facing eventual winners Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, ending their hopes of a second Champions League title.
Vincent Kompany, now in charge of Bayern, has led the team to four consecutive wins in all competitions. Dinamo Zagreb, on the other hand, is looking to make an impact in the competition. With 25 domestic league titles and 13 domestic doubles, Dinamo is a competitive side. They have already seen off Qarabag in the qualifiers but suffered a home loss to Hajduk Split, ending a 23-game unbeaten league run.
Bayern and Dinamo last met in 2015, with the Germans winning both encounters thanks to a dominant performance by Robert Lewandowski. Dinamo will be making their third appearance in the Champions League in eight years and will be looking to put up a strong fight against Bayern.
Here are the key storylines for the match and how you can watch it:
How to Watch and Odds:
– Date: Tuesday, September 17 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
– Location: Allianz Arena – Munich, Germany
– Watch: Paramount+
– Odds: Bayern -800; Draw +800; Dinamo +2000
Don’t miss any of the Champions League action. You can catch all the coverage on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, and CBS Sports Golazo Network throughout the season.
League Phase Schedule:
Bayern: Dinamo Zagreb (home), Aston Villa (away), Barcelona (away), Benfica (home), Paris Saint-Germain (home), Shakhtar Donetsk (away), Feyenoord (away), and Slovan Bratislava (home).
Dinamo: Bayern Munich (away), Monaco (home), Red Bull Salzburg (away), Slovan Bratislava (away), Borussia Dortmund (home), Celtic (home), Arsenal (away), and Milan (home).
Team News:
Bayern: Leroy Sane has returned to the squad, giving Kompany a full squad to choose from. Players like Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, and Mathys Tel will be competing for a spot in attack. Jamal Musiala is expected to support Harry Kane in the front line.
Possible Bayern XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Kim, Upamecano, Guerreiro; Pavlovic, Palhinha; Coman, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane.
Dinamo: Coach Jakirovic may make changes to the lineup, with Sandro Kulenovic and Bruno Petkovic likely to start. Petar Sucic and Martin Baturina will be in midfield.
Possible Dinamo XI: Nevisitic; Ristovski, Theophile-Catherine, Mmaee, Pierre-Gabriel; Ademi, Sucic; Cordoba, Baturina, Pjaca; Petkovic.
Prediction:
Despite Dinamo’s ability to pose challenges, Bayern is expected to secure a comfortable win. Predicted score: Bayern 2, Dinamo 0.
As Bayern Munich and Dinamo Zagreb prepare to face off in the Champions League, football fans around the world are eager to see how the match unfolds. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting clash between two competitive teams.