Bayern Munich can punch their ticket to the knockout rounds of the Champions League with a Group A victory over Galatasaray at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.
The Bavarian giants are seeking to complete the double over their Turkish counterparts after securing a 3-1 win in the reverse fixture two weeks ago.
Match preview
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Three days after suffering a humiliating DBF-Pokal second-round exit at the hands of third-tier outfit Saarbrucken, Bayern Munich returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion when they put Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund to the sword 4-0 at Westfalenstadion on Saturday.
Dayot Upamecano headed Bayern in front in the fourth minute before Harry Kane netted a superb hat-trick on his Der Klassiker debut, increasing his Bundesliga goal tally to 15 from just 10 games, to help Thomas Tuchel's side claim a statement win and remain within touching distance of Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table.
The Bavarian giants will welcome a return to the Allianz Arena where they have won each of their last four games and scored a remarkable 22 goals, including four in a thrilling 4-3 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League on matchday two.
Bayern, who are one of only four teams with a perfect group-stage record after three matches this season, currently boast the longest unbeaten run in Champions League group-stage history which was extended to 37 games courtesy of the aforementioned win over Galatasaray a fortnight ago.
The six-time European Cup winners have won each of their last six meetings with Turkish opposition in European competition, including a thumping 6-0 victory over Galatasaray in their only previous home encounter with the Super Lig club back in 1972-73.
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Galatasaray enter Wednesday's contest in fine form as they have won eight of their last nine matches across all competitions – a 3-1 home loss to Bayern Munich the only blot on their copybook.
Okan Buruk's side have barely put a foot wrong on the domestic front as they have picked up 31 points from a possible 33 available in 11 Super Lig games, winning 10 successive matches since a goalless stalemate with Kayserispor on the opening weekend of the season back in mid-August.
Wilfred Zaha inspired Galatasaray to their latest triumph with a goal either side of half time to help the Turkish giants claim a 2-1 home win over Kasimpasa last Friday and climb above Fenerbahce to the top of the table.
Galatasaray now turn their attention back to the Champions League where they remain in contention to reach the last 16 for the first time in a decade as they currently sit second in Group A, one point above third-placed Manchester United who they face on matchday five.
The 23-time Turkish champions have never beaten Bayern before, but they can head to Bavaria with optimism as they are unbeaten in each of their last 10 European away games, while they have won each of their last four away fixtures with German opposition, most recently beating Schalke 04 by a 3-2 scoreline in the 2012-13 Champions League.
Team News
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Bayern Munich will be without defender Matthijs de Ligt for several weeks with a partial knee ligament tear, while Tarek Buchmann remains sidelined as he continued to recover from a hamstring problem.
However, the Bavarians were boosted by the return of Upamecano and Leon Goretzka last weekend, the latter of whom played with significant strapping round his hand following an operation last month, and both players are in contention to start again at centre-back and in midfield respectively.
Joshua Kimmich served the first of his two-match domestic ban last weekend, but he is available to play on Wednesday and is set to return in midfield to partner either Goretzka or Konrad Laimer.
Thomas Muller will continue to push Jamal Musiala for a start in the number 10 role, but the latter is expected to retain his place in the first XI in behind star striker Kane, who has contributed to four goals (two goals and two assists) in four group-stage games this season.
As for Galatasaray, goalkeeper Fernando Muslera is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after dislocating his elbow in the win over Kasimpasa, so Gunay Guvenc is expected to deputise between the sticks and make his Champions League debut.
Halil Dervisoglu came on as a second-half substitute last weekend, but the forward is ineligible to play on Wednesday after being left out of the club's Champions League squad.
After starting at left-back against Kasimpasa, Abdulkerim Bardakci is expected to move across to centre-back against Bayern to allow either Kazimcan Karatas or Angelino to start on the left side of the back four.
Tete is set to compete with Hakim Ziyech for a start on the right flank, while Zaha, Kerem Akturkoglu and Mauro Icardi are all expected to continue in attack, forcing Dries Mertens to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Mazraoui, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Laimer, Kimmich; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Guvenc; Boey, Sanchez, Bardakci, Karatas; Ayhan, Torreira; Tete, Akturkoglu, Zaha; Icardi
We say: Bayern Munich 3-1 Galatasaray
Goals are to be expected on Wednesday as Bayern have found the net at least twice in 14 of their last 15 matches across all competitions, while Galatasaray's last five Champions League away visits to Germany have produced a total of 22 goals.
Bayern will be regarded as firm favourites to claim maximum points, though, and they should ultimately have enough firepower to outscore their Turkish opponents en route to booking their place in the last 16.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
