A big night is in store at the Lluís Companys in the Catalan capital as Hansi Flick’s Barcelona host Bayern Munich in matchday three of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League phase (kick-off 3pm ET) in a match that will gauge Barça’s aspirations in the top European competition against one of the favourites. There is also a small matter of revenge on the line with memories of the 2020 2-8 humbling at the hands of the Bavarian team still very fresh in the minds of many Barça fans with Flick in charge of the German team at the time.

Barcelona are flying high in LaLiga and celebrated a comfortable win over Sevilla last Sunday at Montjuïc with a return to action for Gavi with the 20-year-old back on the pitch after eleven months of hard recovery following an ACL injury. The Andalusian midfielder is not totally match-fit to make a start but could get minutes in the second half depending on how the match goes. Flick will go all out to try to beat Bayern and make a statement on the big Champions League stage with the Bundesliga side employing a very similar style of football to the Blaugrana with high pressure and intensity throughout the 90 minutes in what should be a spectacular meeting.

Possible Barça XI

Everything points to Iñaki Peña starting in goal, Koundé and Balde will remain on the wings with a central pairing of Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez with the duo enlisted with keeping a close eye on Harry Kane, Bayern Munich’s top scorer. In the centre of the field, Casadó and Pedri are expected to marshall the midfield with Lamine and Raphinha on the flanks. The only doubt for Flick is who plays behind Lewandowski and his options are Fermín or the fit again Dani Olmo. The former RB Leipzig man didn’t get any playing time in the Sevilla game despite having resumed full training with his Barça teammates.

Leading the line will be Robert Lewandowski, who faces his former side with the Polish striker enjoying a rich vein of form at the moment as he tops the LaLiga top scorer charts this season so far with a dozen goals for FC Barcelona and his prowess in front of goal tonight could be instrumental in determining the outcome of the game.

Barcelona XI for Bayern Munich (potential XI)

Peña, Balde, Martinez, Cubarsí, Kounde, Casado, Pedri, Fermin/Olmo, Raphinha, Lamine, Lewandowski