FC Copenhagen – Bayern Munich : Preview & Prediction
After letting a late 2-0 lead slip away for a draw in their opening UEFA Champions League (UCL) match, Copenhagen now face a mammoth task to build on that point against six-time European champions Bayern Munich. The home side suffered another blow with a 2-0 home loss to Midtjylland in the Danish Super League, allowing their opponents the chance to close the gap in the standings.
Last season, Copenhagen shared a group with Dortmund and managed just one point from their two games in a pair of matches that served to extend their dismal winless record against German opponents to 12 games (E4, P8). Only one of those draws came at home (E1, P5), suggesting that Copenhagen will need a miracle if they are to improve on what they have done in three of their last five UCL group stage appearances when they finished bottom.
Like the home side, Bayern head into this match on the back of a frustrating draw against Leipzig over the weekend in local league action. True, the Bavarians came back from a two-goal deficit to earn a point, but as a result, the reigning Bundesliga champions were in third place in the standings. They may then feel more confident against Danish opposition, having won five of their six matches against such teams (G5, P1).
Qualification from the group stage is nothing more than a formality for Bayern, who have contested the round of 16 of every UCL from the 2008/09 season onwards. They have achieved this by compiling a UCL group stage unbeaten record of 35 games (G32, E3) and another record of 14 consecutive group stage wins, a run that was extended by their fantastic 4-3 win over Manchester United in the first round.
Players to watch: Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara has conceded exactly two goals in four of his last five appearances, and is set for a preview of what he will face next year in this match ahead of his confirmed transfer to Wolfsburg in 2024. One man to watch out for is Bayern and England star Harry Kane, who has scored seven goals in his last five appearances for club and country, and will be unpopular in these parts after knocking Denmark out of EURO 2020.
Key stat: Six of Bayern’s last eight away wins in the UCL have come without conceding a goal.
FC Copenhagen – Bayern Munich : Betting Tips
OVER 3.5 GOALS Odds: 2.25
