Tottenham face tough challenge in Bayern Munich

Manuel Veth –

Tottenham vs Bayern Munich – Tuesday, October 1, 20:00BST/21:00CEST – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England

Tottenham vs Bayern Munich will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (CC-BY-SA-4.0, Hzh)

Last year’s finalist Tottenham Hotspur will host Bayern Munich on matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League. For Tottenham, the match against Bayern could not have come at the worst time.

The North Londoners have struggled and won just two of their last eight games, including an embarrassing defeat against fourth division side Colchester in the League Cup. The win against Southampton on the weekend was, therefore, important for the Spurs, even if it was not a convincing performance.

Experience Champions League football live! Book your European football travel now by visiting Nickes.com!

“It isn’t important how we played but that we showed a reaction to the last few games,” goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said. The keeper made a big mistake ahead of Southampton’s only goal of the game. “The win will give us confidence for the match against Bayern.”

Bayern, in the meantime, continued their positive series in the Bundesliga and are now first in the standings. The German record champions, however, did not always look convincing in their 3-2 victory over promoted Paderborn on the weekend and will have to show a different face against Tottenham on Tuesday.

“Such a game is special,” midfielder Joshua Kimmich said. “We can make a statement again and show that we are still in the picture internationally. If you ask me, I want to win that.”

FOR MORE ON GERMAN FOOTBALL LISTEN TO THE GEGENPRESSING PODCAST NOW!

“It will no doubt be a demanding and tough game,” said Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “We’re up against a well-built team, who were Champions League finalists last season.”

Although Bayern have more depth than Tottenham, the Bavarians are warned by their record in England, where they have won just once in the last five games. A top performance will be needed on Tuesday to ensure that Bayern will make it two out of two wins in the Champions League. 

Tottenham vs Bayern Munich – Players to look out for:

Harry Kane #10 – Tottenham Hotspur

Harry Kane is the sort of striker that guarantees goals, a player that when through on goal you know you can get ready to celebrate. This season Kane has already scored five goals in his first seven games for Tottenham in the English Premier League. Kane also scored against Olympiacos on matchday 1. Numbers that will make him the biggest threat for Bayern’s defence on Tuesday.

Harry Kane is Tottenham’s biggest star. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich

Robert Lewandowski is perhaps the only striker on the planet, who is better than Kane. Lewandowski’s record this season, in fact, has been incredible. The 31-year-old striker has scored ten goals in six Bundesliga games and also scored against Crvena zvezda on matchday 1.

Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrate scoring his third goal with his teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Schalke 04 FC Bayern Munich in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany on August 24, 2019. (Photo by UWE KRAFT / AFP)

Tottenham vs Bayern Munich – Match Stats

• Tottenham have won their last four matches against German clubs, home and away, all against Dortmund.
• Tottenham were unbeaten at home to German clubs (W6 D1) before succumbing 2-1 to Borussia Dortmund in 2016; they lost their next such match too, to Bayer Leverkusen in November 2016 (0-1), but have won the last two, scoring three goals in beating Dortmund.
• Bayern have won only one of their last five games away to English clubs (D2 L2), a 5-1 success against Tottenham’s north London rivals Arsenal in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg.
• Bayern are unbeaten in their last nine European away games (W6 D3), scoring at least two goals in each one before drawing a blank at Liverpool.

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: Tottenham vs Bayern Munich – 1-2

Tottenham vs Bayern Munich – Lineups

Tottenham Hotspur:

Formation: 4-3-1-2

Lloris – Rose, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Aurier – Ndombélé, Winks, Sissoko – Eriksen – Kane, Son

Head Coach: Mauricio Pochettino

Bayern Munich:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Neuer – Alaba, Boateng, Süle, Pavard – Thiago, Kimmich – Coman, Coutinho, Gnabry – Lewandowski

Head Coach: Niko Kovač

Manuel Veth is the owner and Editor in Chief of the Futbolgrad Network. He also works as a freelance journalist and among others contributes to Forbes.com and Pro Soccer USA. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from King’s College London, and his thesis is titled: “Selling the People’s Game: Football’s transition from Communism to Capitalism in the Soviet Union and its Successor States,” which is available HERE. Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently splits his time between Victoria, BC and Munich, Germany.  Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth.