Bayern Munich vs. Atletico Madrid 10/21/20 - UEFA Champions League Picks & Predictions

Bayern Munich will host Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in the opening fixture of the group stage for both in the UEFA Champions League. Bayern is coming off of a 4-1 victory over Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday in the top-flight German Bundesliga. A brace each from Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski secured the easy victory for the defending Bundesliga champions. However, Corentin Tolisso was issued a red card in the victory and will miss the next Bundesliga fixture.

 Leading up to this match Bayern has injury concerns with Leroy Sane, the marquee signing during the summer. Sane will miss Wednesday’s match, as will both defender Chris Richards and center back Tanguy Nianzou. However, Bayern Munich is a very deep club and that is evidenced by winning the treble last campaign and the injuries to its players should not affect the club's play at home on Wednesday. 

Atletico arrives in Germany for this match on Wednesday off of a 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday in La Liga. Recently-signed Uruguayan International Luis Suarez and Belgian International Yannick Ferreira Carrasco each scored for Atletico. After just four matches played Atletico is in eighth place in the La Liga table on eight points but has two matches in hand against most of the other clubs in the first seven spots and is just three points adrift of first place.

Atletico will be without Sime Vrsaljko, its Croatian right back who is injured and center back Jose Gimenez may also miss out due to an injury. However that should not affect the play of the Spanish club. Luis Suarez has added another dimension to the Atletico attack and has made the Madrid-based club more of an offensive-minded group rather than its defensive posture the last few years, although the club still has a nasty back line and goalkeeper that make life miserable for opponents.