Bayern vs Man Utd - Preview

Man Utd look to stop the rot against an unbeaten Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich head into their epic Champions League opener against Man Utd as clear favourites with Erik ten Hag's side out of form and under pressure.

The hosts have been in good form this season so far, not including their 3-0 defeat by RB Leipzig in the Super Cup. In the four matches coming after that, Bayern are unbeaten, winning three of them.

Only a last-minute penalty kept them from maintaining their 100% record in the Bundesliga in their 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. In the Champions League, Bayern Munich picked up eight wins in their last 10 appearances, with those two defeats both coming at the hands of European champions Man City.

Manchester United’s win over Bayern Munich in the 1999 final feels a distant memory as that treble winning side eclipse the current squad in virtually every department and the general feeling around the club at present is negative.

They come into this game on a run of three defeats in five games after a humbling 3-1 defeat by Brighton in a game that they were outclassed almost throughout. Their defence is a particular concern with Onana in goal coming in for criticism too. Their recent UCL form is nothing to shout about either with just one win in their last five.

Bayern Munich have no new injury worries heading into this game - Manuel Neuer remains sidelined with injury, so Sven Ulreich will continue in goal. Bayern will however be without manager Thomas Tuchel, who is serving a touchline ban.

The visitors will be without the injured Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, whilst Anthony and Jadon Sancho are likely missing for personal reasons. However, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount and Raphael Varane could return whilst Rasmus Hojlund could provide a spark in attack.

Bayern predicted lineup vs Man Utd

Bayern predicted lineup vs Man Utd (4-3-3): Ulreich; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretza, Muller; Sane, Gnabry, Kane

Man Utd predicted lineup vs Bayern

Man Utd predicted lineup vs Bayern (4-3-3): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Martinez, Varane, Dalot; Casemiro, McTominay, Bruno; Rashford, Mount, Hojlund

Bayern vs Man Utd Match Facts

Each of the previous 11 meetings between FC Bayern München and Manchester United have come in the UEFA Champions League – the German side have never lost at home to the Red Devils before (W3 D2).

Manchester United have only lost more UEFA Champions League games against Barcelona (5) than they have against FC Bayern München (4), though one of their two wins against them was to lift the trophy in 1999.

Only Real Madrid (304) have played more UEFA Champions League games than FC Bayern München (282). This is the German side's 16th consecutive campaign in the competition.

In the current format of the competition (since 2003-04), Bayern have progressed to the knockout rounds in all 19 of their appearances in the competition. They last fell at the first hurdle in 2002-03.

Manchester United have been eliminated from the group stages of the UEFA Champions League in two of their six campaigns in the competition since Alex Ferguson retired (33%), having gone out at the first round group stage in just three of their 18 campaigns under the Scotsman (17%).

Bayern are unbeaten in their last 34 UEFA Champions League group stage games (W31 D3), winning the last 13 in a row. Both are the longest such runs in the group stages in the history of the competition.

FC Bayern München have scored in each of their last 40 home games in the UEFA Champions League group stages (W38 D1 L1) since a 2-0 loss to Bordeaux in November 2009.

In his last campaign in the UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 2021-22, Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag won all six of his group stage games by an aggregate score of 20-5.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has been directly involved in seven goals in his last 10 appearances against Manchester United (four goals and three assists), although he’s not ended on the winning side in any of his last five games against them, losing four of those (D1).

Based on the quality of shots on target faced, Manchester United’s André Onana prevented more goals than any other goalkeeper in the UEFA Champions League last season (+7.8 – 10 goals conceded from 17.8 xG on target faced, excluding own goals).