Confirmed lineups: Chelsea vs Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich are in London this evening to face Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
The reigning Bundesliga champions won all six group stage matches, including the 7-2 annihilation of Tottenham Hotspur in London back in October.
Chelsea weren’t so convincing in their group, coming through narrowly as runners-up behind Valencia, with Ajax and Lille the other two teams in the group. Frank Lampard’s side have only won five of their last 15 in the English Premier League too.
The two teams for this evening’s match are confirmed as:
Chelsea
Willy Caballero; Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger; Reece James, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Marcos Alonso; Ross Barkley, Olivier Giroud, Mason Mount
Substitutes: Kepa Arrizbalaga, Kurt Zouma, Billy Gilmour, Emerson Palmeiri, Willian, Pedro, Tammy Abraham
Frank Lampard appears to have named a back three with Reece James and Marcos Alonso playing wingback roles in a 4-3-3 formation. Former-VfB Stuttgart centre-back Antonio Rudiger is in the starting lineup, whilst Olivier Giroud gets the nod ahead of both Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi as the starting striker.
Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer; Benjamin Pavard, Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, Alphonso Davies; Joshua Kimmich; Kingsley Coman, Thiago Alcantara, Thomas Mueller, Serge Gnabry; Robert Lewandowski
Substitutes: Sven Ulreich, Alvaro Odriozola, Lucas Hernandez, Corentin Tolisso, Leon Goretzka, Philippe Coutinho, Joshua Zirkzee
Hansi Flick appears to have switched back to a back four after the three central defender experiment didn’t go to plan in Friday night’s 3-2 win at home to Paderborn. David Alaba partners Jerome Boateng in the middle with Lucas Hernandez not yet fit to start two games in a week.
Joshua Kimmich plays in front of the back four, whilst Serge Gnabry and Kinsgley Coman will look to create chances for Robert Lewandowski as the sole striker. Thomas Mueller and Thiago will look to support the attack from the middle of the pitch.