German giants Bayern Munich and Premier League outfit Arsenal go head-to-head in the Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday night.
Bayern are enjoying their usually strong Bundesliga campaign and are currently seven points clear at the top of the German top-flight table. However, Bayern under Carlo Ancelotti this season are not considered as strong as in previous seasons under the Italian predecessors.
The Bavarians suffered two defeats in the group stages of the competition at Atletico Madrid and at Russian club FC Rostov. The defeats meant Bayern finished as runners-up in their group to Atletico and were handed a more difficult draw.
One aspect of the Bayern team that has not changed under Ancelotti is their formidable home form in the Champions League. The German champions have recorded victories in their last 15 home games in European competition. No doubt the Allianz Arena is a daunting place to visit for opposition teams.
Arsenal finished top of their group, managing four wins and two draws from their six group games. Finishing top of their group was supposed to give the Gunners a more comfortable draw, but it has not worked out that way for the team from north London.
Instead, they face a team that have knocked them out of this competition twice since 2010 when Arsene Wenger’s side last made it past the last-16 stage. The German side have been the Gunners Champions League bogey team in the last decade.
Wenger’s side have a poor record at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League, winning just once on their five visits to Bayern and suffering three defeats in the process.
One positive for the Gunners is the fact that they scored two or more goals in five of their six group games. The side from north London are underdogs, though, and Forebet predicts that Bayern will come out on top in this clash.