Bayern Munich are 90 minutes away from sealing a Champions League quarter-final berth as they face Atalanta at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
With Harry Kane benched in the first leg due to a minor calf issue, Vincent Kompany could not have believed that they would virtually secure the tie in Bergamo itself. Josip Stanišić, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson and Jamal Musiala featured on the scoresheet as The Bavarians handed Atalanta a 6-1 thrashing.
The Belgian manager might be inclined to rest Kane for this match to have him fully fit in a starting role against Union Berlin. While Bayern hold a huge lead on aggregate, they are facing a goalkeeping crisis: Manuel Neuer is recovering from a calf injury, Leon Klanac has a muscle issue, and Sven Ulreich has sustained a muscle tear during the 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Jonas Urbig has a concussion, but he was able to train with the squad yesterday and could be ready for the fixture. Otherwise, 16-year-old Leonard Prescott will have to get in between the sticks.
Olise’s suspension for the clash means that Lennart Karl will receive his sixth start in the Champions League this season.
As for Atalanta, they will need to complete one of the most sensational comebacks in European football history to overturn the tie in their favour.
La Dea do not have significant injury problems to deal with ahead of this match, except Giacomo Raspadori, who is recovering from a long-term thigh issue. Yunus Musah will serve a suspension and therefore will miss the clash.
Rafaelle Palladino will bank on Mario Pašalić, Lazar Samardžić and Gianluca Scamacca, as these three have found the net quite swiftly in Europe this season.
Predicted line-ups for the match between Bayern Munich and Atalanta
Bayern Munich:
Prescott – Stanišić, Tah, M.-J. Kim, Bischof – Goretzka, Pavlović – Karl, Gnabry, Luis Díaz – Jackson.
Atalanta:
Carnesecchi – Kossounou, Hien, Kolašinac – Zappacosta, de Roon, Ederson, Bernasconi – de Ketelaere, Krstovic, K. Sulemana.
GGFN | Trambak Bhattacherjee
