{"id":1495,"date":"2016-10-18T14:49:09","date_gmt":"2016-10-18T18:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=1495"},"modified":"2016-10-18T14:49:09","modified_gmt":"2016-10-18T18:49:09","slug":"1495","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2016\/10\/18\/1495\/","title":{"rendered":"Bayern Munich vs PSV Eindhoven: Champions League Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matchday three of the UEFA Champions League<\/strong> sees Bayern Munich<\/strong> vs PSV Eindhoven<\/strong> at the Allianz Arena<\/strong>. It is the first time since 2004 that Bayern have encountered a Dutch<\/strong> side in competitive football. They go into this match having won thirteen straight home matches in Europe<\/strong>. The omens don\u2019t look good for PSV, who haven\u2019t won a European tie away from home since 2007.<\/p>\n

Current Form<\/p>\n

Bayern have begun the Bundesliga<\/strong> season in typically impressive fashion. They won have five and drawn two of their seven league games so far, and top the table currently. Their start to the Champions League campaign has been mixed. After thrashing Russian<\/strong> side F.C. Rostov<\/strong> in their first game, they were beaten 1-0 by Atl\u00e9tico<\/strong> at the Vicente Calder\u00f3n<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

PSV have had an inconsistent start to their domestic campaign. They currently lie in fourth place, nine points behind Eredivisie<\/strong> pace setters Feyenoord<\/strong>. Their Champions League form has been quite similar. A 1-0 home defeat to Atl\u00e9tico on was followed by a spirited performance in Rostov. Having twice found themselves trailing, they battled back to claim a 2-2 draw.<\/p>\n

Team News \u2013 Bayern<\/p>\n

Carlo Ancelotti<\/strong> has almost a full strength squad available to choose from. The only confirmed absentee is Franck Rib\u00e9ry<\/strong>, who is out with a muscle strain. Recently absent have been Javi Mart\u00ednez<\/strong>, Robert Lewandowski<\/strong> and Douglas Costa<\/strong>. They have returned to training, as have Arturo Vidal<\/strong> and Juan Bernat<\/strong>. Arjen Robben<\/strong> is unlikely to start following injury, but could make an appearance from the bench.<\/p>\n

Likely Line-up: Neuer, Rafinha, Hummels, Boateng, Alaba, Lahm, Xabi Alonso, Kimmich, Renato Sanches, Lewandowski, M\u00fcller.<\/p>\n

Team News \u2013 PSV<\/p>\n

There are two main absentees for PSV manager Phillip Cocu<\/strong>. Striker J\u00fcrgen Locadia<\/strong> is out with a groin injury. Midfielder Jorrit Hendrix<\/strong>, an ever present up until a recent knee injury, will also miss out.<\/p>\n

Likely Line-up: Zoet; Brenet, Schwaab, Isimat-Mirin, Moreno, Willems, Guardado, Pr\u00f6pper, S De Jong; Narsingh, L De Jong<\/p>\n

Past Meetings<\/p>\n

Bayern have met PSV in six previous encounters, and have won four of them. The last time the two sides met was in the 1999-2000<\/strong> season, which was the only time PSV have beaten the Bavarians<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Final Thought<\/p>\n

It is going to take an impressive performance from the Dutch champions to take anything from this game. Bayern have a squad full of internationals, most of whom would grace any squad in world football. It would take a brave person to bet on PSV upsetting the odds in this fixture.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n