Despite being among the favourites for this season’s Champions League, Bayern slipped to a rather disappointing 1-1 draw in their opening knockout game. The German champions needed a late strike to avoid defeat at Salzburg, leaving them with some work to do at home this week.

 

It hasn’t been plain sailing for Bayern lately, as they’ve won just twice across their last five games. Buoyed by their first leg draw, can Salzburg cause more problems in this trip?

 

Travelling to Munich is a daunting task for Salzburg, given that the hosts have won nine of their previous 11 at home. Meanwhile, the visitors were beaten in visits to Wolfsburg and Lille in the group stage.

 

This is a significantly harder trip, given that Bayern swept all before them in the last round. They scored 22 times across their six wins, including 13 strikes in three home games. Overall this term, Bayern have scored 51 times across their 16 home matches.

 

While Robert Lewandowski continued his impressive form, Leroy Sane is another clear threat. The winger has had a hand in nine goals in seven Champions League games this term, scoring in all three of their home matches.

 

Bayern Munich have won all five of their games in European competition when hosting an Austrian opponent, scoring 15 goals. That includes a 3-1 victory over Salzburg in 2020, so it’s hard to make a case for the visitors pulling off a shock in this one.

 

Salzburg’s previous nine away games against German opposition have seen a total of 32 goals scored, at an average of 3.6 per game. Given Bayern’s scoring tally in this competition and the fact Salzburg have scored in 10 of their last 11 trips in this competition, we;re backing more goals.

Over 3.5 goals to be scored in this one is our first prediction, while we expect Sane to be amongst them. His fantastic form in Europe – especially at home – suggests he can get in on the act. Given the scoring threat in this Bayern side, we're going with them to coast to a 4-1 win.

 

 

 

Note, odds are correct at the time of writing, but are subject to change.

 

 

 

 

 

While Liverpool’s pursuit of silverware continues in three competitions, they arguably look best suited to European glory. This has been a perfect season in Europe for Juergen Klopp’s side, putting them on the verge of a record.

 

The Reds have won all seven of their games in the Champions League this season. They could become just the third team in the history of the European Cup/Champions League to win their opening eight games in a single edition of the tournament. Only Barcelona in 2002-03 and Bayern Munich in 2019-20 have previously completed that feat.

With Liverpool in stellar form and heading into this clash as heavy favourites, it’s little surprise that we're backing them for an eighth straight victory.

Inter Milan have lost four of their previous five away games against English sides in the Champions League. Their only victory in that run came under Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge in the year that the Nerazzurri lifted the trophy. 

Liverpool have won each of their three games against Inter Milan in the Champions League without conceding a single goal, which includes their 2-0 success in Milan in the first leg. That was their third win over Milanese opposition this term, having beaten AC home and away in the group stage.

While the focus with Liverpool is on their impressive attacking options, they’re a cut above defensively. Klopp has built a team which Europe’s elite struggle to break down.

 

Since the start of the 2017-18 season, the Reds have kept more clean sheets in Champions League home games than any other team, recording 15 in 24 games. Meanwhile, no side who have played more than 10 home matches in the competition this period can better Liverpool’s clean sheet percentage of 63%.

 

Given Liverpool’s clean sheet streak against Inter and their excellent defensive record, we're backing the Reds to win to nil this week, having kept three clean sheets in four matches.

The Reds have the talents of Mo Salah to fire them to a win at the other end. He has scored eight goals in seven Champions League appearances this term, making it his second-best season in the competition. The Egyptian is scoring every 69 minutes in Europe, so back him to fire Liverpool to a 2-0 win.

 

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