Problem with German teams is they won't take anyone lightly. Always professional.

Anyway we have absolutely nothing to lose in this one. Just enjoy the big stage and go all out. We most probably lose the tie and go out but we have our chance.

So who is confident we can keep a clean sheet?

One could have a lot of justified pessimism about these two legs against Bayern but I feel this is one positive aspect: We don't desperately need a clean sheet tomorrow.

I remember many first legs at home against monster sides like Barca and there would always be this common understanding "we need a 1-0 or 2-0 here, otherwise we're basically out already".

Now against Bayern we may statistically be unlikely to proceed, but at least I can picture a hundred unlikely ways of it happening. We could picture the Ajax scorelines (4-4 at home, 1-0 away), or we could even lose tomorrow and win it in Munich. I'm not saying the first leg result won't significantly impact our chances of going through. I just feel like the home-factor won't be so massively impactful, and maybe we can simply regard them as two legs, and that's for two reasons:

a) our team seemed pretty indifferent this season to where they play

b) it seems to be a general tendency in the champions League recently. Same round last year Ajax went through against Real after losing the first leg at home 1-2. ManUnited went through against PSG after losing the first leg at home 0-2. Liverpool drew Bayern 0-0 at Anfield (actually quite a decent result) and then won it 3-1 at the Allianz arena.


Still, 1-0 or 2-0 tomorrow please

Be delighted with a 1-0 win for us tomorrow.

Come on you Blues.

10 hours ago, Maldeika said:

Against Paderborn Müller and Coman were rested for Tuesdays match. As 4 in the back did not function with 2 centre forwards with left foot in previous tries and Flick does not trust Odriozola defensively (a lot right-footed players have a good developed left foot, it is seldom that left footed players can do much with their right foot, atleast Alaba and Hernandez can't) Flick tried 3 at the back with Kimmich, Alaba and Hernandez. Like that Thiago had to play deeper, too. 

Odriozola and Coutinho played - they for sure do not play Tuesday. 

Bayern's first eleven functions great, but bigger changes to it are problematic. That happened in some previous matches. 

The Bayern lineup that is expected to start Tuesday: 

Neuer

Pavard - Boateng - Alaba - Davies

Kimmich - Thiago 

Müller

Coman - Lewandowski - Gnabry

Team- and Playerstats: 

https://1xbet.whoscored.com/Teams/37/Show/Germany-Bayern-Munich

https://understat.com/team/Bayern_Munich/2019

I hope that gives you some information! 

I still feel we can pressure that defence into mistakes, also take advantage of set pieces.

My ultimate fear is we are going to end up like our fellow London teams before us and just end up being scalped by them. We have been far from impressive this season, Bayern weren't great either but they have made bigger strides to fixing their issues.

Bayern fans are very confident after trashing all other London clubs they want to humiliate us the most now...

Scared what Lewandowski is going to do to our defence.

I would us go with a 343 and play with 3 CB's as we look good defensively (better than our usual terrible standards) when we do that. Jorg-Kova double in MF, and see how they perform against a top club like Bayern, I am sure they will play well!

Tammy upfront if fit

We have to stick with the 3 at the back. We're most solid with that and wingbacks.

2 minutes ago, Zeta said:

We have to stick with the 3 at the back. We're most solid with that and wingbacks.

Agreed, and its the only way to get Alonso in the team. Without him (Azpi or Emerson) we have to rely on our threats coming through the right or centrally which makes us much easier to control. 

I would play the same team even against Bayern.

I don't see Bayern stopping Giroud's knock downs which means Mount gets to run at them in space.

I don't see Bayern stopping Kova's dribbles or even James's dribbles.

I do think our defense will be susceptible.

A question if Willian had been playing instead of Barkley, do we still think Alonso would have scored that second...... Barkley was unselfish.

 

2 hours ago, Ernie_blue said:

I still feel we can pressure that defence into mistakes, also take advantage of set pieces.

True. Alaba is only CB and Boateng is only playing because Süle and Hernandez are injured. Kimmich is playing DM instead of his natural role because he put pressure on the club to take a more central role and both Mueller as well as Coutinho are not having a good season.

There's no way they will do to us what they did to Spuds and I'm really not afraid of away games this season, especially not when it's in Munich. I'm surprisingly positive for this one.

Am sure 2012 is still in their fans mind and they want to thrash us for it.

I can see this going two ways no in between its either they win big or we win big also I don't see any middle ground.

10 hours ago, axman2526 said:

So who is confident we can keep a clean sheet?

Zero chance.

Three at the back ,Kovacic and Jorginho in front of them,Reece and Alonso as wb's with Mount and Willian in front of them.Giroud as our striker in this one just 'cause I feel he's more clinical than Tammy.

2 hours ago, Vagabond said:

True. Alaba is only CB and Boateng is only playing because Süle and Hernandez are injured. Kimmich is playing DM instead of his natural role because he put pressure on the club to take a more central role and both Mueller as well as Coutinho are not having a good season.

There's no way they will do to us what they did to Spuds and I'm really not afraid of away games this season, especially not when it's in Munich. I'm surprisingly positive for this one.

It is Kimmich's position in the German team, too. And Alaba is so fantastic as CB that most question if Hernandez has chances against him. 

Müller is not having a good season? 

He had 7 goals and 11 assists in his last 16 matches or 1181 minutes, that is a goal/assist in less than 70 minutes... 

https://statsbomb.com/2020/02/who-are-the-stealth-mvps-of-the-bundesligas-best-teams/

But you are right with Coutinho - only played fine against the last in the Bundesliga table and right now is no starter! 

Edited February 24, 20206 yr by Maldeika

If I was Bayern I would target Alonso.(if he plays) He seems to have got slower and his defensive performances really are masked by his goals and incredible shooting technique. 

41 minutes ago, rtwelch said:

If I was Bayern I would target Alonso.(if he plays) He seems to have got slower and his defensive performances really are masked by his goals and incredible shooting technique. 

That is why we set up with 3 at the back to mask his weaknesses. I feel presently he brings so much creative/attacking wise to continue leaving him out.

Just don’t play a 4-4-2 against Bayern or it might get ugly.

2 hours ago, Maldeika said:

It is Kimmich's position in the German team, too. And Alaba is so fantastic as CB that most question if Hernandez has chances against him. 

Müller is not having a good season? 

He had 7 goals and 11 assists in his last 16 matches or 1181 minutes, that is a goal/assist in less than 70 minutes... 

https://statsbomb.com/2020/02/who-are-the-stealth-mvps-of-the-bundesligas-best-teams/

But you are right with Coutinho - only played fine against the last in the Bundesliga table and right now is no starter! 

Kimmich plays that position for Germany too. So how is the german national team doing lately?

No way Alaba is a "fantastic" CB. He's a brilliant LB and I would sign him in a heartbeat though.

I don't know what to tell you about Mueller, only that I've seen him play at least 6 games this year and that I wasn't impressed. I also really don't care about his stats in a league that Bayern is winning since 2013.

Edited February 24, 20206 yr by Vagabond

1 hour ago, Vagabond said:

Kimmich plays that position for Germany too. So how is the german national team doing lately?

No way Alaba is a "fantastic" CB. He's a brilliant LB and I would sign him in a heartbeat though.

I don't know what to tell you about Mueller, only that I've seen him play at least 6 games this year and that I wasn't impressed. I also really don't care about his stats in a league that Bayern is winning since 2013.

Agree if there is any chance to sign Alaba do it! So far thou he is excellent as a CB and the press/teammates in Germany hail him as the defensive leader in the Bayern back line.

Despite all that he really isn´t happy with that position as there were numerous debates in club and especially the national team to move him into midfield and now he plays CB. Alphonso Davies now got his LB spot, so some questions will be answered in the summer about that.

Very Zen interview with Thiago:

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/chelsea-vs-bayern-munich-uefa-champions-league-2020-thiago-alcantara-interview-a9353426.html#r3z-addoor

As much as his inconsistent form does my head in and he waves his arms more than a cheerleader, Willian is due a good game and I got a feeling he will score.

Frank's injury update:

CHO out but close (maybe Saturday)

Pulisic & Kante out

Pedro small injury last week but in content for the game

RLC game fit

 

Just read through this thread and no one has mentioned Gnabry. People spoke of Lewandowski in the previous match but Gnabry also scored and assisted both of the other goals.

He is who I'm worried about.

for many Chelsea fans this guy is the POY - here he is talking about Sie German FCB

 

19 hours ago, axman2526 said:

So who is confident we can keep a clean sheet?

No, not me.

I do hope I'm wrong though.