Played
September 19, 2012 7:45 PM BST
Allianz-Arena — München
Referee:‬ F. Aydinus‎
Attendance:‬ 68000‎
 

Bayern Munich - Valencia Preview: Beaten finalists look for three points at home

Having come so close before falling to Chelsea on penalties, the German giants will face a tough test against Pellegrino's charges, who are missing some key names in midfield

By Daniel Edwards

Javi Martinez - Bayern Munich
Getty
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BAYERN MUNICH


Neuer
Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Badstuber
Martinez, Schweinsteiger
Shaqiri, Muller, Ribery
Mandzukic

VALENCIA

Alves
Pereira, Rami, Ruiz, Cissokho
Parejo, T Costa
Feghouli, Jonas, Viera
Soldado

Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes is spoilt for choice in his squad, especially going forward. Javi Martinez will be desperate to continue the form he showed for Athletic Bilbao throughout the Basques' Europa League run in the colours of his new side, and could make an appearance ahead of Luis Gustavo.

Peru international Claudio Pizarro, meanwhile, barely featured at the weekend against Mainz after featuring in two matches for his country, but will hope to feature at some point against Mauricio Pellegrino's men.

Valencia midfielder Fernando Gago missed out against Celta after suffering a crunching blow to the head while on duty with Argentina, a blow which saw the ex-Roma and Real Madrid star stay in hospital under observation. He returned to Valencia only on Monday evening, and will now miss out against Bayern.

With David Albelda and Ever Banega also on the casualty list, Tino Costa and Daniel Parejo are likely to continue in the middle.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Bayern are tied with Barcelona as the fourth-most successful side in European football, having lifted the Champions League/European Cup on four occasions - their last triumph coming in 2001.
  • With five second-place finishes, meanwhile, no team has fallen at the final hurdle as often as the Bavarians.
  • Die Roten will be hoping to go one step further than in 2012, after seeing their dreams of a fifth title go up in smoke with a shoot-out defeat at the hands of Chelsea. 
  • Valencia have never won Europe's premier club competition; falling at the final hurdle twice, in 1999-00 and 2000-01.
  • In 2001, Bayern ended Che dreams of a first Champions League, winning on penalties thanks to a missed kick from current coach Pellegrino (right).
  • As well as Bayern Munich, Valencia will take on Lille and BATE Borisov in Group F of the Champions League.


Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 20 Nov 2012 Valencia 1 - FC Bayern München 1
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UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 19 Sep 2012 FC Bayern München 2 - Valencia 1
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Last Five Matches
Odds
Returns: Bayern Munich £14.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £560.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Valencia £2010.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
1Manuel NeuerGoalkeeper
4DanteDefender
17Jerome BoatengDefender
21Philipp LahmDefender
28Holger BadstuberDefender
7Franck RibéryMidfielder
20Javi MartínezMidfielder
10Arjen RobbenMidfielder
31Bastian SchweinsteigerMidfielder
39Toni KroosMidfielder
14Claudio PizarroStriker
22Tom StarkeGoalkeeper
11Xherdan ShaqiriMidfielder
30Luiz Gustavo DiasMidfielder
38Emre CanMidfielder
44Anatoliy TymoshchukMidfielder
9Mario MandzukicStriker
25Thomas MüllerStriker
1Diego AlvesGoalkeeper
20Aly CissokhoDefender
4Adil RamiDefender
47João PereiraDefender
20Ricardo CostaDefender
8Sofiane FeghouliMidfielder
18Jose Andrés GuardadoMidfielder
21ParejoMidfielder
24Tino CostaMidfielder
7JonasStriker
9Roberto SoldadoStriker
13GuaitaGoalkeeper
12BarragánDefender
18Víctor RuizDefender
-Jonathan VieraMidfielder
28Juan BernatMidfielder
29Cristian PortuguésStriker
18Haedo ValdézStriker
Players to Watch
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 31
Games Goals YC RC
11 2 4 0
The dynamic midfielder makes the difference in Bayern whenever he is on the field with his tireless work-rate and intelligent distribution. If he can impose himself on Valencia's weakened midfield the Germans are halfway to winnning.
Diego Alves
Diego Alves
Position: Goalkeeper
Squad Number: 1
Games Goals YC RC
2 0 0 0
The goalkeeper kept two clean sheets for Brazil in the recent international break, and knows that more impressive performances will strengthen his claim for a regular place. A brilliant shot-stopper, who could be key to Valencia taking something from Munich.
Prediction
Valencia will not be an easy prospect for the Bavarians, but the quality Heynckes possesses across the park should be enough to secure a narrow victory.
Editor's Prediction
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid
12 0
Robert  Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Borussia Dortmund
10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern Munich
8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona
8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray
8 0