Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich Meet in Key Battle, One Point Apart
Atletico Madrid host an injury-hit Bayern Munich in a crucial UEFA Champions League clash, with only one point separating the two clubs in the league phase table.
A Must-Win Match
Atletico Madrid will face Bayern Munich in Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League league phase. Bayern are 14th in the table, and only one point separates the two teams. That makes this game feel like a “six-pointer”, as the winner will take a big step towards the knockout rounds.
Bayern Hit by Injuries
Bayern arrive in Madrid after a difficult weekend. In Saturday’s Der Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund, new Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane missed a penalty, and Dortmund scored a late equaliser to earn a draw.
Bayern also suffered more injuries in that game, with Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise among the players hurt. They were already without Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala and Luis Diaz. Head coach Vincent Kompany has also been resting at home because of illness.
There is some good news for Bayern, as club officials said Olise’s injury is not serious. He could still start on the wing against Atletico.
Kane vs Alvarez
The match will be a battle between two top strikers: Bayern’s Kane and Atletico’s Julian Alvarez. Bayern have a slightly better record in recent meetings between the clubs, with four wins, two draws and two defeats.
However, Atletico have been very strong at home this season. Diego Simeone’s side are unbeaten at the Metropolitano Stadium, with five wins and one draw in six home games. They have scored 13 goals and conceded only three in those matches.
Feyenoord vs Inter
In another important game, Feyenoord host Inter Milan. Both teams need points to stay in the race for the knockout rounds, and both have been up and down in Europe.
Feyenoord beat Como 3-2 at home in mid-October but then lost 1-0 away to Real Betis. Cristian Chivu’s Inter beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, but before that they lost 4-3 at home to Club Brugge.
PSG Chase Perfect Record
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain travel to Villarreal for the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. PSG are one of five teams with a perfect record in this season’s Champions League. They beat Barcelona 4-2 in the last round and are now aiming for a fourth win in a row.
Villarreal, in contrast, have struggled. They are 19th in the table with only three points. Their only win so far was a 3-1 comeback victory at home against Napoli.