Three things to watch when Bayern Munich host Red Bull Salzburg.
Matchday four of the UEFA Champions League group stage will feature Bayern Munich hosting Red Bull Salzburg at the Allianz Arena. This will be the second time the two clubs have met in the group stage as Bayern defeated Salzburg 6-2 on matchday three.
Five different players scored for Bayern in that victory as Die Roten unleashed four goals in the final quarter-hour of the match. Here are three things to watch for on Wednesday night.
Clinching a spot in the knockout rounds
A victory for Bayern against Salzburg would clinch a spot in the knockout rounds. They are currently top of the group and have a five-point gap back to Atletico Madrid who are in second place. Although it may not clinch the top spot in the group, the victory would take the pressure off of a Bayern in the final two matchdays to get all six points from the two remaining fixtures. It’s just that simple on Wednesday if Bayern wins they will advance to the knockout rounds.
If Bayern defeat Salzburg and Lokomotiv Moscow defeat Atletico Madrid, then Bayern would not only advance to the knockout rounds but also clinch the top spot in the group. That is a scenario to keep an eye on during the action on Wednesday in the group.
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Bouncing back from Bundesliga action
The draw against Werder Bremen on Saturday was not a disastrous result but it was a bit of a disappointment to not come away with all three points. Following the international break, Bayern struggled to display their usual dominance against mid-table clubs in the Bundesliga.
Die Roten gave up ground in the race for the title and enter this match against Salzburg with a perfect record in the Champions League on the line. If they can bounce back and produce a stellar performance against their opponents on Wednesday it will signal Bayern’s draw against Bremen was just an anomaly.
Lewandowski in search of more goals
Robert Lewandowski was one of the key performers for Bayern when the two clubs faced each other two weeks ago. The Polish forward scored two goals and recorded six shot-creating actions in the victory. After failing to score against Werder Bremen over the weekend, he could be extra motivated to get on the scoresheet against Salzburg. Another two-goal performance would also see him move up the Golden Boot standings in the Champions League. Lewandowski will certainly be an impact player to watch in this fixture.