Barcelona and Bayern Munich kick-off their respective quests for Champions League glory with a blockbuster Group E clash at Camp Nou on Tuesday night.
The last time Barca and Bayern met was in 2020 where the Bayern destroyed the Catalans 8-2 and went on to win the competition.
Both teams have not met in the group stages since the 1998-99 campaign, where the Bavarian giants claimed a pair of 1-0 (home) and 2-1 (away) victories.
Barca will not only have to avenge the 8-2 humiliation in the hands of Bayern will also hope to inflict a first away defeat on them in four years.
Zenith Ziva
Bayern have not suffered defeat on the road in Europe’s elite tournament since losing 3-0 at PSG in September 2017 – winning 14 and drawing four away from home since then – which represents the longest-ever unbeaten streak away from home in the Champions League.
And looking at injuries to the two sides, Barcelona’s attacking forces have taken quite the hit in recent weeks, with Antoine Griezmann returning to Atletico Madrid while Sergio Aguero (calf), Ousmane Dembele (knee) and Ansu Fati (knee) remain in the treatment room.
Martin Braithwaite is now set to undergo surgery on a knee problem, so Depay and Philippe Coutinho may start either side of Luuk de Jong up top.
Jordi Alba has a strong chance of overcoming a knock in time to take his place on the left, but Sergino Dest is out, so Oscar Mingueza or Sergi Roberto will hope to get the nod at right-back.
Meanwhile, Bayern are relatively well-stocked , with Corentin Tolisso their only confirmed injury absentee for this game after Kingsley Coman was fit enough to make the journey.
Serge Gnabry had to be withdrawn just before half time at the weekend, although Nagelsmann affirmed that the substitution was precautionary and is hopeful that the ex-Arsenal man will be passed fit here.
Marcel Sabitzer made his Bayern debut off the bench against his former employers Leipzig but has his work cut out to displace Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich or Thomas Muller, the latter of whom boasts six goals in five games against Barca.
