Bayern Munich vs Arsenal Matchday Stats Preview
FC Bayern München are looking to qualify for the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for a 13th time, while Arsenal are aiming to do so for just the third time. Since the Gunners last qualified for a semi-final in the competition in 2008-09, the German side have done so on eight separate occasions.
Arsenal have lost on each of their last three trips to face German sides in the UEFA Champions League, with the last two both ending in 5-1 defeats to FC Bayern München (November 2015 and February 2017). Along with those being their joint-heaviest away defeats in Europe, they are the only two occasions in which Arsenal have conceded five goals away from home in any European competition.
Arsenal have only won one of their six away games against FC Bayern München in the UEFA Champions League (D1 L4), with that lone victory coming in March 2013 in the second leg of a last 16 tie (2-0). Indeed, despite that win, the Gunners were still eliminated from the tournament after losing on away goals (3-3 on aggregate).
FC Bayern München boss Thomas Tuchel is looking to qualify for a UEFA Champions League semi-final with a third different team, having previously done so with both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. The only manager to do so with more than three different sides in the competition is José Mourinho (FC Porto, Chelsea, Internazionale and Real Madrid).
In the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, FC Bayern München have only failed to progress from one of their previous 18 two-legged ties when avoiding defeat in the first leg – versus Liverpool in the round of 16 in 2018-19 (0-0 in the first leg, lost 1-3 in the second leg at the Allianz Arena).
Arsenal have made the most passes that have broken the opposition’s defensive line in the UEFA Champions League this season (111), with four different players doing so 10+ times – also the most of any team in the current tournament (16 Ben White, 11 Bukayo Saka, 11 Jakub Kiwior and 10 Martin Ødegaard).
FC Bayern München’s Harry Kane has scored 15 goals in 20 appearances against Arsenal, including one in the first leg against them last week. Only three players have previously scored in both legs of a UEFA Champions League knockout stage tie against the Gunners: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in 2015-16 and Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben in 2016-17 (all in round of 16 ties).
Bukayo Saka has been directly involved in eight goals in the UEFA Champions League this season (four goals, four assists); the most ever by an English player in their debut season in the competition. Indeed, only Thierry Henry has registered more combined goals and assists in a single edition for Arsenal (10 in 2002-03 and 11 in 2003-04).
Thomas Müller could make his 150th UEFA Champions League appearance for FC Bayern München (currently on 149), which would see him become just the third player to reach this milestone for a team in the competition, after Xavi with Barcelona (151) and Iker Casillas with Real Madrid (150).
Martin Ødegaard created five chances in the first leg against FC Bayern München; the most by an Arsenal player in a UEFA Champions League knockout stage game since Cesc Fà bregas in February 2010 (5 v FC Porto).
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