Champions League, Bayern vs Atletico Madrid: Preview, Dream11 and stats
Bayern Munich host Atletico Madrid in matchday one of the UEFA Champions League 2020-21 season tonight. The Bavarians, who won their sixth Champions League trophy last season, will be aiming to get the job done against Diego Simeone's men. Meanwhile, English teams Liverpool and Manchester City open their campaign as well. Earlier, matchday one saw four groups starting the proceedings. Here's more.
Team news and selection
Bayern are set to be without Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry. Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa could take up the wide positions. For Atletico, new arrival Luis Suarez will partner Joao Felix upfront as Diego Costa is ruled out with a thigh injury. The more defensive-minded Marcos Llorente could be drafted in. Lucas Torreira and Koke will support him in mid-field.
Bayern will fancy themselves to get the job done
Bayern, who are joint-second in the Bundesliga 2020-21 table, have secured four straight wins in all competitions. Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller are in sublime form and they will keep Atletico busy. Hansi Flick has plenty of options and one would fancy Bayern at their own backyard. The German said it's important for his players not to face any injuries.
Atletico Madrid need to start strongly
Spanish side Atletico will be hoping to avoid a second successive defeat to German opposition after losing to RB Leipzig in the quarter-finals of the Champions League 2019-20 season. Luis Suarez has scored three goals in three appearances since leaving Barcelona and will be eager to make his presence felt. Atletico are unbeaten in four La Liga games this season.
Dream11 team prediction, timing and TV listing
Dream11 team prediction: Neuer; Pavard, Alaba, Savic, Gimenez; Goretzka, Koke, Carrasco; Muller, Lewandowski (c), Suarez (vc). The match is set to start at 12:30 AM IST. One can watch the match live on the Sony Ten Network, besides streaming the same on Sony LIV app (paid subscription). Match prediction: Bayern 2-1 Atletico.
Lewandowski eyes history, Suarez and Muller can script these numbers
Bayern talisman Robert Lewandowski has scored in nine consecutive Champions League group stage appearances (17 goals) - no player has ever scored in 10 in a row. Suarez (26) needs to score one goal in order to equal Rivaldo's UCL career goals (27). Muller can steer clear of Filippo Inzaghi and Eusebio (46 goals each).
Here are the English teams on focus
As per Opta, this will be Liverpool's first meeting with Ajax since the 1966-67 European Cup. If Liverpool lose against Ajax, it will be the first time since 2014 that the Reds will suffer three successive UCL defeats. Manchester City are unbeaten in 11 games in the group stage since a surprise 2-1 loss to Lyon in September 2018.
A look at the fixtures (two matches at 10:25 PM)
Group A: Bayern vs Atletico, Salzburg vs Lokomotiv (10:25 PM IST). Group B: Real vs Shakhtar (10:25 PM), Inter vs Gladbach. Group C: Manchester City vs Porto, Olympiacos vs Marseiile. Group D: Ajax vs Liverpool, Midtjylland vs Atalanta.
