Bayern Munich and Barcelona square off in a mouth-watering clash at the Estadio da Luz in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Friday.
Bayern to Build on Solid Form
Bayern Munich enjoyed a fine finish to their 2019-20 domestic campaign, winning all 11 games after returning to competitive action in May.
They wrapped up an eighth successive Bundesliga crown and beat Bayer Leverkusen to lift the DFB Pokal title for a record 20th time.
Bayern’s fine form stretches way back prior to the enforced break and they are unbeaten across all competitions since a 2-1 defeat at Borussia Monchengladbach on December 7.
Hansi Flick’s men made easy work of Chelsea earlier this month, winning 4-1, to complete the job in their last-16 Champions League tie as they seek a first European title since 2013.
Barcelona cannot boast a similar record over recent times, having conceded the La Liga title to rivals Real Madrid as they put in a string of inconsistent performances through June and July.
The Blaugrana looked much better as they saw off Napoli 3-1 in the second leg of their last-16 tie, progressing 4-2 on aggregate, but Bayern, who are 1/1 to win, will pose a more serious challenge at the Estadio da Luz on Friday.
Goals on the Cards in Lisbon
Thursday’s Champions League quarter-final between Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig, which the latter won 2-1, was a clash of styles and led to somewhat of a disappointing first half with both sides failing to register.
However, Friday’s tie is expected to be played on the front foot with a decent tempo as two attack-minded clubs go head-to-head.
Bayern have scored at least two goals in each of their eight Champions League engagements this season, netting three of more times on seven occasions, while they put seven past Tottenham and notched six times at Crvena Zvezda.
With the re-shaped Champions League format, which sees all games decided as one-off affairs at neutral venues, meaning there has to be a winner on the night, Bayern and Barcelona will have to go for it at some point in Lisbon.
The two quarter-finals, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday, each saw three goals scored and backing over 2.5 goals at 5/12 could be the way to go.
Indeed, that bet has landed in each of the last four competitive meetings between Bayern and Barcelona.
Prolific Pole the One to Watch
Robert Lewandowski has long been regarded as one of the top marksmen in world football and he has enjoyed another prolific campaign in front of goal.
The Poland international has struck 53 times in 44 outings across all competitions, his highest-ever tally during a single season, and he is the runaway leader for the Golden Boot in the Champions League.
He boasts 13 goals in seven appearances in the elite European competition as he goes in hunt of Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time record of 17 Champions League goals in a single season.
The 31-year-old looks the most likely candidate to get on the scoresheet on Friday and he can be backed at 20/33 to score anytime.
*All odds correct at time of writing
