Bayern Munich: Three key battles to watch out against Barcelona
Alphonso Davies vs Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi scored yet another superb solo Champions League goal last weekend. The Argentine came inside from right flank and curled it past Napoli’s David Ospina. Messi is likely to the lineup on the right flank against Bayern, drifting into central zones.
It has been a frustrating season for Messi since Barcelona has struggled to win La Liga and Copa Del Rey. His numbers have dropped by his usual standards, but he has still managed 55 goal contributions across all competitions. The Argentine forward can singlehandedly change the outcome of the game through his creative passing and mazy dribbling. (Stats courtesy: Whoscored)
Die Roten will deploy Alphonso Davies on the left flank to stop Messi. The Canadian winger has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in Bavaria, becoming one of the best full-backs in Europe this season. Davies has been adventurous in the final third and solid defensively due to his blistering pace.
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Messi has been embarrassing the world’s best defenders for more than a decade, so it is going to be a big test for Davies. The Canadian winger will come up against the biggest test of his career on Friday. Davies will have to be disciplined to keep Messi quiet. Since Messi is the most influential player on the pitch for Barcelona, the outcome of this duel will dictate the result of this game.