Previewing FC Bayern Munich’s UEFA Champions League group stage opponents

FC Bayern Munich has learned their opponents for the UEFA Champions League group stage.

The UEFA Champions League finished just weeks ago but it’s already time to look ahead to the 2020/21 edition of the competition. On Thursday, the group stage draw took place as 32 clubs learned their fate. FC Bayern Munich was drawn in Group A. Their opponents will be Atletico Madrid, Lokomotiv Moscow, and Red Bull Salzburg.

Here’s a quick look at what to expect from Bayern’s opponents.

Atletico Madrid

The La Liga club joins Bayern as the favorites to advance from the group to the knockout rounds. Atletico came up short in the 2019/20 Champions League and suffered a shock defeat to RB Leipzig in the quarterfinals. After their exit from the competition, they have made a key addition in the transfer window that should help them be a force to be reckoned with.

Luis Suarez has been the most high profile signing Atletico have made so far. The former Barcelona striker has already scored two goals for his new club. He should be a tough opponent for a Bayern backline who have struggled to contain top-class strikers so far this season. With the majority of Atletico’s squad remaining unchanged from last season, Suarez adds to their quality.

There’s no question Atletico will enter the group stage as the club who poses the biggest threat to Bayern. They defeated Liverpool last season and are very capable of doing the same to Bayern. The two fixtures against Atletico will certainly be one of the marquee matchups of the group stage.

Lokomotiv Moscow

The Russian club has a tough task ahead of them in this group. They have failed to qualify for the knockout round in their most recent Champions League appearances. In both the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons they finished bottom of the table in their group. For this reason, they will be longshots to advance from Group A.

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Lokomotiv Moscow lost one of their key players in the transfer window. Aleksei Miranchuk made the move to Atalanta after a fantastic campaign in the Russian top flight. He led the club with 12 goals and three assists during the domestic season. In the Champions League, he scored two of the four goals the Russian club recorded. His departure will not make things any easier in the Champions League this season.

Bayern will be heavily favored to win both of their fixtures against Lokomotiv Moscow. However, any sort of slip-ups against Moscow could cost them the top spot in the group.

Red Bull Salzburg

Salzburg has been known to produce top talent in recent times. They have developed players such as Erling Braut Haaland, Naby Kieta, and Takumi Minamino. This season’s roster has plenty of young talent as well. Dominik Szoboszlai and Patson Daka headline the players Salzburg currently has that are up and coming stars. Daka has already scored nine goals in all competitions while Szoboszlai has scored three goals. Both players will be ones to watch during the group stage.

The Austrian club should not be overlooked by Bayern in the group stage. They are an exciting side to watch under Jesse Marsch and can certainly upset Bayern if presented with the opportunity. Salzburg could very well qualify for the knockout round if they are able to take results against Atletico and Bayern.