Three things to watch as Bayern Munich host Lokomotiv Moscow.
The final matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage has arrived. Bayern Munich will welcome Lokomotiv Moscow to the Allianz Arena to wrap up a successful group stage campaign. The defending European champions clinched progression to the Round of 16 after matchday four and will enter this fixture having already topped Group A. For this reason, whatever the outcome of this match is, it will not affect Bayern’s place in the table.
Lokomotiv Moscow has proven to be a difficult club to defeat in the group stage as their largest margin of defeat has only been by two goals. On matchday two they only lost to Bayern 2-1 at home. Expect another competitive fixture between these two clubs. Here are three things to watch for ahead of Wednesday’s match.
Looking to remain unbeaten
Although the outcome of this match will not have an effect on Bayern’s place in the group, Die Roten will be putting their unbeaten record in the group stage on the line. They have been by and far the best club in Group A and have the opportunity to close out the group stage with another victory.
Bayern has not lost a Champions League since March of 2019 and they will be looking to keep their unbeaten run going a little while longer. However, recent performances suggest that Die Roten is going through a poor run of form.
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Lokomotiv Moscow needs a victory
Unlike Bayern, Lokomotiv Moscow will enter this match needing to win this fixture. They are currently in the last place in the group but have the opportunity to finish in third place and advance to the Europa League knockout rounds.
The visitors need Atletico Madrid to either defeat or draw Red Bull Salzburg to claim third place or have Salzburg draw or defeat Atletico Madrid. A win is absolutely necessary for Lokomotiv Moscow. For this reason, they should field their strongest team for this fixture and be a difficult opponent for Bayern.
More squad rotation
For the second consecutive Champions League match, Hansi Flick will likely rotate his starting lineup to provide additional rest for the star players. With games coming thick and fast, having key players fresh for the Bundesliga will be ideal at the moment.
Against Atletico Madrid, it was a mixture of young talent and veterans and on Wednesday it should be a similar squad. It’s very likely players such as Alexander Nübel, Chris Richards, Jamal Musiala, and Marc Roca will make appearances in the starting lineup. With key Bundesliga fixtures on the horizon in the coming weeks, rotating the squad for this fixture makes absolute sense.