Will Bayern Munich remain untouchable in the group stage?

Although FC Bayern München’s varnish has recently suffered a few minor scratches at national level, the Reds are still feared internationally. This is also due to the incredible dominance of the German record champions in the group stages of the top flight, where a series of 34 consecutive games without defeat is currently on the books (31 wins, three draws). Accordingly, the tip for Bayern against Manchester United is for a home win for the Munich team.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that Manchester United are in crisis. The English record champions, who have been eliminated in the preliminary round of the Champions League in two of the last six occasions, have already lost three of their first five league games in the Premier League. Basically, therefore, the prediction has to go to the Bundesliga club in Bayern against Manchester United, who nevertheless have to watch out like hell in view of the enormous quality of the Red Devils.

This task will also be complicated for FC Bayern because coach Thomas Tuchel is missing through suspension. The 50-year-old received a yellow card in the quarter-final against Manchester City in April this year and will have to sit in the stands. In addition, just like in the shaky 2022/23 season, the Reds’ defence is still not as secure and stable as in the dominant 2010s. In the five competitive matches of the 2023/24 season, seven goals have already been conceded.

Moreover, because goals have always been scored on both sides in nine of the eleven competitive matches between the two teams so far, we find the greatest value in betting that both teams will score.

Bayern – Statistics & current form

FC Bayern München recently went through a very shaky 2022/23 season, which then ended with the championship after all thanks to a Dortmund gift on the last matchday. The aim for the new season is not only to defend the title more confidently, but also to attack again in the other competitions.

This of course includes the Champions League, which the Reds have won six times so far. The fact that it is not seven titles is also due to today’s opponent, who gave Bayern the memorable 1:2 defeat in 1999, when the Munich team still led 1:0 in Camp Nou until the first minute of injury time.

So far, seven goals conceded in five competitive matches in the 2023/24 season

However, apart from that final, things have mostly gone very well for FCB against the English record champions. In five Champions League home games against the Red Devils, there has not yet been a single defeat (three wins, two draws), but also not a single clean sheet.

It is therefore interesting to bet that Bayern will not play to nil against Manchester United, especially as Thomas Tuchel’s team has already conceded seven goals in the five competitive matches of the young 2023/24 season. The coach, meanwhile, will have to sit in the stands after his yellow card in the quarter-final exit against Manchester City.

Unbeaten for 34 Champions League group games

Even without Thomas Tuchel, however, FC Bayern bring a stunning record to the table. Since the Champions League has been played in its current format (2003/04), the German record champions have always made it to the knockout stage without exception.

In the process, they have not lost in 34 consecutive games in the group phase (31 wins, three draws). The last 13 group matches were all won. Both are ongoing records in the history of the Champions League.

Predicted Bayern line-up:

Bayern Munich (Expected line-up) 4-2-3-1

Manchester United – Statistics & current form

Manchester United have won the Champions League and the European Cup of Champions three times so far. The Red Devils last won under the legendary Alex Ferguson in 2008 against Chelsea in Moscow.

However, since the Scot, under whom MUFC have failed only three times in 18 Champions League group stages, has been off the bench, the English record holders have qualified for the preliminary round of the top flight on only six other occasions. In only four of the six cases did the trip go to the knockout rounds.

Failed in the preliminary round on two of the last six occasions

With Group A completed by underdogs FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray, it would be extremely disappointing if Erik ten Hag’s side fail to make it past the preliminary round this year.

A point at the Isar, however, could set the course for advancement, but the bookmakers do not believe in that. In all form, the odds on Bayern against Manchester United ultimately swing in the direction of the Bundesliga side.

Only six points from a possible 15 in the Premier League

It should also be noted that MUFC are coming to the Allianz Arena with a chip on their shoulder. The Red Devils have already lost three of their first five Premier League games this season (two wins) and, following the recent 3-1 home defeat to Europa League debutants Brighton, occupy a sobering 13th place in the Premier League table.

Of course, there is enough quality in the highly decorated squad of the English record champion to achieve a turnaround in the Premier League in the near future. However, this also requires an initial spark, which the first victory in Munich at the sixth attempt could certainly provide.

Predicted Manchester United line-up:

Manchester United (Expected line-up) 4-2-3-1

Bayern – Manchester United Direct Comparison / H2H Balance

Head to head: 4 – 5 – 2

There have been a total of eleven competitive matches between the two teams so far and all eleven games have taken place in the UEFA Champions League. Bayern are ahead in the head-to-head comparison with four wins and have remained unbeaten in all five home games against Manchester United so far (three wins, two draws). The FCB last won 3-1 in front of the Red Devils in the quarter-finals of the 2013/14 Champions League.

Bayern – Manchester United Tip

The betting odds of the best bookmakers are clearly in favour of Bayern against Manchester United, which is a very bold assessment in our eyes. FCB has not lost any of its five Champions League home games against MUFC so far (three wins, two draws). However, there was no clean sheet in any of these five matches. The Red Devils, who have been battered at national level of late, will also be looking to regain their lost confidence in this tricky away game.

In our opinion, it would be risky to play the favourite bet at the low prices, as the Red Devils can at least be expected to win the point.

Therefore, it is much more sustainable to predict that both teams will score again in this German-English duel. For goals on both sides, Bet3000 offers odds of 1.60, which we play with five units out of ten.