Bayern Munich v Tottenham: Spurs to face Bayern backlash

Bayern Munich v Tottenham: Spurs to face Bayern backlash
Bayern have won all five of their group games, and Kevin Hatchard thinks they'll maintain their 100% record against a weakened Spurs… You can follow lớn the soccer predict today pages!



Bayern Munich v Tottenham Hotspur

Wednesday December 11, 20:05

Live on BT Sport

Bayern finding solace in UCL run
If ever an expression encapsulated the frustration Bayern Munich are feeling right now, it was the look of disgust and barely restrained fury on the face of Joshua Kimmich,as teammate Javi Martinez cleaned out Borussia Monchengladbach dangerman Marcus Thuram with a brainless challenge in the box at the end of their game on Saturday. Ramy Bensebaini smashed in the resultant penalty to record his second goal of the game and give the Bundesliga leaders a seven-point advantage over the record champions.

Having won their first four soccer tips of the day under interim coach Hansi Flick with an aggregate score of 16-0, Bayern have lost their last two league matches, despite being arguably the better side in both (they had 40 shots across the two games.) Their hopes of winning an eighth straight Bundesliga title have been seriously diminished, although they are still trading at 1.63 lớn win the Meisterschale.



It's hard to assess the last two games. Bayern's aggressive pressing under Flick has largely worked superbly, but they simply missed a lot of chances that they would usually take. Even the impeccable Robert Lewandowski has fallen short in front of goal, failing lớn score in his last three Bundesliga matches, having found the net in all of the first 11 matchdays.

The glaring weakness at the moment is in defence - long-term injuries lớn Niklas Sule and Lucas Hernandez have forced David Alaba to play out of position, and neither Jerome Boateng nor Martinez look very solid.

Amidst all of this domestic angst, Bayern have been picture-perfect in the Champions League. They have won all five of their group-stage games, including a stunning 7-2 win at White Hart Lane. They have scored an extraordinary 21 goals in those five wins, and have leaked just four.

Corentin Tolisso and Jerome Boateng were both injured during the defeat lớn Gladbach, but both have been declared fit lớn start here.

Spurs safe, so risks unlikely
On their way to reaching last season's Champions League final, Tottenham left themselves plenty to do in the group stage, but seven points from their final three matches saw them through to the last 16. This time around, they were in trouble after picking up a solitary point from their first two outings, but three straight wins have booked runners-up spot in the group.