Who will be expected to play a key role for Bayern Munich on Wednesday when they take on Liverpool in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16? Bayern Munich take on Liverpool tomorrow in the second leg of the most exciting matchup of this season’s Champions League round of 16. The Bavarians held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield in the first leg, meaning they have it all to play for at the Allianz Arena. Niko Kovac deserves recognition for his tactical approach in the first leg. His side played a much more subdued game than usual, opting for defensive stability rather than offensive firepower. The Croatian will have to be at his tactical best again tomorrow for Bayern to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals. Kovac will have to make due without a few key players. Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich are both suspended for the match, while there are a few others injured. Nevertheless, there are a few players who could play an important role for Bayern Munich in their quest to overcome their old foe Jurgen Klopp and his new club. This season hasn’t quite gone according to plan for James Rodriguez. The Colombian superstar certainly would have hoped to make himself a more prominent figure in the squad by this point in the season. Various injuries have kept him sidelined for a hefty portion of the season, while he’s struggled somewhat with form when he has been fit. He hasn’t really performed on the same level that made him arguably Bayern’s best player last season. At least, he hadn’t until the past few weeks. However, James started to look more like himself against Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend. He took it a step further on Saturday, completely dominating Wolfsburg from attacking midfield. There was no question who was running the show offensively for Bayern Munich. Prior to these matches James had shown some glimpses of what he’s truly capable of, but his performance has gone up another level in the past two games. He could hardly have asked for a better primer for tomorrow’s match against Liverpool than what he got against Wolfsburg this past weekend. Thomas Muller suspended and Leon Goretzka just coming back from injury, there’s no question who will be playing behind Robert Lewandowski on Wednesday — James has locked his spot in. The only question is which James Rodriguez shows up: The one that we saw this past weekend who eviscerates his opponents with his incredible vision, creativity and passing range? Or the more timid one who fails to leave any sort of recognizable mark on the match? Niko Kovac and the rest of the Bayern squad need the former to show up. His ability to pick apart a defense with his splendid left foot will be desperately needed, as will his capability to both recycle possession in midfield and drive play forward when necessary (not to mention his pinpoint delivery from corner kicks and set pieces). Keep your eye on the Colombian tomorrow. He has a huge opportunity to make himself a hero in the eyes of the Bayern faithful. Let’s hope he grabs it with both hands.<doc-sep>It’s all to play for in the second leg between Bayern Munich and Liverpool in the Champions League. Honors were even at 0-0 in the first leg at Anfield, so there absolutely has to be a winner at the Allianz Arena even it requires extra time and a penalty shoot out. Ahead of the first leg, we caught up with Zach from SB Nation’s Liverpool outlet, The Liverpool Offside, to get a sense of how Liverpool fans felt ahead of that leg. We decided to catch up with him again ahead of the do-or-die second leg, as everything will be on knife’s edge at the Allianz Arena. 1. What lessons did you guys learn from the first leg? Ein Prosit, ein prosit, der Gem— Wait. What? Oh, hi Tom! Boss night for footy in Bavaria, yeah? So, the first leg was an interesting stalemate. You jokingly predicted a 0-0 tactical draw, and that’s more or less what we got (although the xG stats show a more lopsided affair). It was a weird game of football, where both teams felt shaky at the back, and yet both teams failed to make the net bulge. I think if we learned anything, it’s that both clubs and/or managers are tactically astute, fairly evenly matched, know their way about Europe, and didn’t want to do anything that would give it away in the first leg. Could really see this one going either way in Munich. Should be a cracking match. 2. Will Klopp set up differently? If so, how? Klopp will be massively bolstered, both in personnel and set-up, by the return of Virgil van Dijk. Fabinho will be free to return to his holding role in midfield (where he has excelled in recent months), and it should bode well for our attack. Of course, that may open up more space for Bayern, who will be bolstered by playing in front of the home crowd. I can’t see Kloppo setting up super defensively, especially with the away goals premium. However, he very well could cede possession — as he has shown a tendency to do in big matches — in order to create space on the counter. 3. Aside from van Dijk, who do you see as a potential difference maker in the tie? Gee, it’s like you read my mind, and not like an email with questions I can read though or anything. Well, any of our front three can hurt any team on any given night. Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino each scored a brace on the weekend, with the former being in particularly good form. The Senegalese international has 8 goals in his last 9 matches in all competitions, and could easily have a few more if he took all his chances (as we saw last time out against Bayern)! And all of this is ignoring the Mo-shaped elephant in the room, who has been running rampant down the wings in recent weeks, but without the expected goal return. We’ll be hoping he fixes that down in Munich! Regardless of what happens in the second leg, we would just like to say thank you to The Liverpool Offside for giving us the opportunity to collaborate with them during this tie between two of Europe’s biggest clubs. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with you guys and hope you enjoy the match. May the best team win! ‘Liebe und Respekt’ from BFW!<doc-sep>Bayern Munich vs Liverpool Betting Tips: Latest odds, team news, preview and predictions Having cancelled out a usually prolific Reds side at Anfield, Al Hain-Cole expects Kovac's men to ensure another tense and tight Champions League tie After grinding out a goalless draw in the first leg at Anfield, Bayern Munich will be aiming to make home advantage count when they welcome Liverpool to the Allianz Arena for Wednesday’s Champions League clash. Niko Kovac’s men did not have a single shot on goal in a defensive performance on Merseyside, and were clearly happy to come away with a clean sheet. Latest odds Having won each of their last seven matches in front of their own fans, they are 11/10 (2.10) favourites with bet365 to complete the job with a victory here. The Reds have lost five consecutive Champions League fixtures away from home, and are 12/5 (3.40) outsiders to take their place in the quarter-finals by coming out on top in this one. The guests overcame this opposition on away goals thanks to a 1-1 draw in Germany when they last met in the 1980-81 European Cup, and you can get odds of 27/10 (3.70) on them earning another stalemate on this occasion. Team news Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Muller are suspended, while Corentin Tolisso and Kingsley Coman are ruled out through injury and David Alaba and Arjen Robben both doubtful. Virgil van Dijk will return after missing the first leg through suspension, with Dejan Lovren back in contention after taking his place on the bench in Sunday’s win over Burnley - leaving Joe Gomez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as the only injury absentees. Tight game Although it was strange to see a European heavyweight put in such a cautious performance, Die Roten may well be vindicated in their focus on blunting Liverpool’s attacking threat in the first leg. Having avoided conceding at a ground where the hosts had scored over three goals a game over the last two Champions League campaigns, they will fancy their chances of holding strong once again after conceding only three times in seven home matches. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp’s men have only scored one away goal in this season’s competition, and hit the net just three times in their last six on the road. Predictions With Van Dijk’s return sure to strengthen the visitors’ backline, 11/10 (2.10) look a smart investment on another tight match producing under 2.5 goals. Odds correct at time of publish. Please gamble responsibly. Under 2.5 goals for a 1.5pt stake at 11/10 (2.10) with bet365<doc-sep>With a disciplined but uncharacteristically defensive performance at Anfield three weeks ago, Bayern Munich didn't allow themselves to be blown away by Liverpool's formidable attack and avoided the fate suffered by other top teams on Merseyside in recent years. The German champions will now feel they're in a strong position to finish the job at home in front of their own fans and reach the quarterfinal of the Champions League for the eighth year in a row. But with the away goals rule now favoring Liverpool, the goalless draw also brings with it considerable risks, and coach Niko Kovac will need to get his tactics spot on. DW looks at how Bayern may approach the game: 1. Fight fire with fire "It's a final! The stadium will be on fire!" said Bayern goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer at Tuesday's press conference, referring to the atmosphere he expects at the Allianz Arena. And it certainly will be electric if Bayern take an early lead – so will Kovac go for the jugular right away? Bayern's fans stuck with their team at Anfield and their support will be needed again Since the 0-0 draw in Liverpool three weeks ago, Bayern have brushed aside Hertha Berlin, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Wolfsburg by a combined score of 12-1, regaining top spot in the Bundesliga for the first time since September in the process. Robert Lewandowski has scored a brace in each of those games and is the top scorer in this season's Champions League with eight goals – although he hasn't scored in any of Bayern's last six European knockout ties. Behind him, Serge Gnabry has notched two goals of his own plus an assist since the first leg while James Rodriguez, who looks set to start in place of the suspended Thomas Müller, underlined his quality with a well-taken finish against the Wolves. Kovac could be tempted to push all three forward in search of an early goal, supported by Thiago Alcantara, who can lend his own offensive abilities to the attack. "I'm in the mood to see us play even more effectively at home with the tailwind of our fans," said Kovac. "We have shown lots of spirit and creativity in the Bundesliga going forward, so I don't think it will end 0-0." Lewandowski and Gnabry have hit top form for Bayern in recent weeks 2. Keep it tight and don't concede After keeping a clean sheet at home, the away goals rule is now very much in Liverpool's favor going into the second leg, creating a doubly dangerous situation for Bayern. Not only would a Liverpool goal leave the Bavarians needing two, it would also force them to come out, in turn leaving them even more vulnerable to conceding again. Knowing the attacking potential he has at his disposal in Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, it's a scenario which will have Jürgen Klopp licking his lips, so don't be surprised to see Liverpool come flying out of the traps. Bayern are well aware of what Liverpool did to Porto, Manchester City and Roma en route to last year's Champions League final. "We have already seen what Liverpool can do so it's important that we also have the right players to safeguard from corners and free-kicks," said Kovac. It's why they dropped so deep at Anfield, even into their own penalty area, to escape Liverpool's aggressive press and avoid leaving spaces in behind when Liverpool did win the ball – and Kovac may be tempted to do so again on Wednesday night, at least initially, to take the sting out of the game. And here, Bayern's absentees could actually prove to be a blessing in disguise. Joshua Kimmich is missing after picking up a third yellow card at Anfield but, despite the progress made, the youngster's positional sense remains a problem for both club and country. His replacement at right-back, Brazilian veteran Rafinha, offers a more disciplined alternative. Similarly on the left, although Kingsley Coman did take part in training on Tuesday, it wouldn't be the end of the world from a defensive point of view if Kovac were forced to go with Franck Ribery. "Franck needs games like this," he said. "He can stamp his mark on the game with his name and his ability. We have to push forward - that's important. But Liverpool are one of the best counter-attacking teams and we'll have to draw a fine line." Bayern kept Mo Salah quiet at Anfield, but can they keep Liverpool at bay again? 3. Let them have the ball As deadly as Liverpool's front three can be, there have been encouraging signs for Bayern in recent weeks that the blade may not be as sharp as it once was, or at least that there are ways of blunting it. Liverpool, who had a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League at the turn of the year, were held to 1-1 draws by Leicester City and West Ham in the build-up to the goalless draw against Bayern, and further 0-0s against rivals Manchester United and Everton have followed since, as Liverpool have surrendered pole position. In all of those games, Jürgen Klopp's side has enjoyed the lion's share of possession but has then struggled to break teams down. Similar to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, Liverpool's attacking philosophy is based on exploiting opposition mistakes with rapid transitions, but that relies upon the opposition having the ball in the first place. So if Kovac opts to concede large amount of possession to Liverpool on Wednesday, it may not be a huge reason to worry, knowing that Bayern have deadly weapons of their own. However Kovac chooses to play it, one thing is without doubt. As James Rodriguez said: "We have to play a perfect game."<doc-sep>
The day of reckoning is almost upon us. Niko Kovac’s Bayern Munich will face Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC at the Allianz Arena, and the result will decide who goes through to the next round of the Champions League. Since the first leg ended in a 0-0, both teams have it all to play for. However, Kovac has to deal with some important absences from his squad. What will the coach do? Team News — Bayern Munich Bayern Munich: Injured / suspended: Joshua Kimmich (yellow card accumulation) Thomas Muller (red card) Corentin Tolisso (ACL) Arjen Robben (thigh) Doubtful: No one (yet) Let’s start with some (relatively) good news. In his pregame presser, Kovac confirmed that David Alaba and Kingsley Coman had completed training with the team and were confirmed for tomorrow’s game. It’s still up in the air whether Coman will start, but just having the option of using him will be good for the team. Thus ends the good news. Bayern Munich will be without the services of Thomas Müller and Joshua Kimmich, both of whom are suspended. Kovac has more than competent backups options in James Rodriguez and Rafinha, but the absence of the two will surely be felt. Arjen Robben and Corentin Tolisso will also miss the game with injury. Where does that leave us? Robert Lewandowski is sure to start up front. The Polish Hitman is likely to be flanked by a duo of Serge Gnabry on the right and Franck Ribery on the left. Why Ribery? Well, Kovac in his presser had nothing but praise for the Frenchman, and Ribery himself just notched up a hat trick of assists against Wolfsburg. Kingsley Coman may come off the bench as a super-sub. In midfield, James Rodriguez will likely start behind the striker, and the duo of Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez are practically guaranteed to be the ones supporting him. James is on a hot run of form, so he’ll be looking to make up for his poor performance in the first leg of the tie. In defense, Kovac was coy about which of his center-backs he would choose. Let’s play it safe and assume that coach will reprise his pairing from the first leg — i.e. Niklas Sule and Mats Hummels. However, Jerome Boateng is in good form at the moment, and with Joachim Loew attending the game, he may have even more incentive to perform. We really don’t know who Kovac will choose until the lineups come out tomorrow (or Bild’s mole leaks it). Finally, to end all speculation, Rafinha will start at right back in place of Joshua Kimmich. the coach confirmed it. With all that said, here’s our best guess for the lineup: Team News — Liverpool Liverpool Injured / suspended: Joe Gomez (fractured leg) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (cruciate ligament) Naby Keita (injured) Doubtful: No one (as far as we know) For Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp will be boosted by the return of Virgil van Dijk, who was suspended for the first leg. The big Dutchman is probably the best center-back in the world at the moment. Between him and Joel Matip, Bayern may find it hard to score. Liverpool’s center-backs will be flanked by Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right (supporting Mohamed Salah) and Andy Robertson on the left (supporting Sadio Mane). Up top, we should expect Roberto Firmino to start. The midfield is a tough one to predict. Naby Keita is injured, so Jurgen Klopp will most likely decide to start a trio of Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, and Fabinho. The return of Fabinho to the center of the park will be a real headache for the Bavarians to deal with — in the first leg, he was stuck playing center-back due to Van Dijk’s absence. Want a more detailed look at Liverpool before the game? Check out our sister site The Liverpool Offside. Here’s how we predict they’ll line up: