Bayern Munich will face Atalanta on March 18 at the Allianz Arena, following a dominant 6-1 victory in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET), with Bayern looking to secure their place in the next round.
In the first leg, Bayern’s performance was overwhelming, marking Atalanta’s joint-heaviest defeat in European competition. The German side has maintained a 100% record at home in Europe this season, winning all their matches at the Allianz Arena.
Despite their strong position, Bayern will be without key players, including suspended midfielder Joshua Kimmich and Michael Olise. However, goalkeeper Jonas Urbig has recovered from a concussion and is set to start.
Atalanta, on the other hand, will be missing Giacomo Raspadori due to injury and Yunus Musah, who is suspended. Their last victory came on February 25, when they defeated Borussia Dortmund 4-1, but they have struggled in recent away matches, losing four of their last seven in the Champions League.
Harry Kane, who has been a standout performer for Bayern this season, is just two goals shy of becoming the first Englishman to reach 50 goals in the Champions League. He has been instrumental in Bayern’s success, contributing significantly to their eight wins in nine Champions League games this season.
Observers note that Atalanta faces an uphill battle, needing to overturn a five-goal deficit to progress in the tournament—a feat that has never been accomplished in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
As the match approaches, Bayern will aim to build on their strong form, while Atalanta will seek to defy the odds and mount a comeback. The outcome of this clash could have significant implications for both teams moving forward in the competition.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any last-minute changes to the lineups or strategies as the match date approaches.
