Bayern München v Arsenal: Champions League preview, predicted line-ups & team news

and the table already gives it weight. Arsenal sit seventh on 6 points from two wins, with a goal difference of +4 and no goals conceded. Bayern are 10th on 4 points after a 5-0 home win over Bodo/Glimt and a 3-3 draw at Viking. Under the standings snapshot, the top eight qualify directly for the last 16, so Bayern could fall two points further behind that line with a defeat. Arsenal can build on a strong start. Bayern need to stop dropping points away from home.

Bayern's two results on the season's numbers show a side that scores freely and concedes on the road. They beat Bodo/Glimt 5-0 at home, then conceded three at Viking in a 3-3 draw. The form data shows 4.0 goals per game, 25 shots and 3.06 expected goals for per game, against 1.5 conceded. Their last league outing was a 6-1 win over RB Leipzig, according to a Yahoo Sports preview.

Arsenal have won both games, 1-0 away at Napoli and 3-0 at home to Lille. They have not conceded, with an expected goals against average of 0.26 per game. However, all four of their goals have come between the 61st and 75th minutes, which suggests a side that wins games late rather than early.

Rotation is a lesser question than availability here. Bayern are without two of their main creative options, so changes in attack are forced rather than chosen. Arsenal are also short of a centre-back and a full-back. The Premier League side played in the league at the weekend, according to the Yahoo preview, which reported a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest. Bayern had a similar turnaround after the Leipzig game. Neither side has a clear league-position reason to rest players, and both are in the top 10 of a 36-team table.

Bayern München (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Stanišić, Upamecano, Tah, Davies; Kimmich, Laimer; Gnabry, Karl, according to the season data. The creative burden without two key attackers falls on Karl and Díaz.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhães, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi; Saka, Ødegaard, Eze; Gyökeres. With a centre-back missing, Mosquera is the likeliest partner for Gabriel in central defence.

Kick-off at the Allianz Arena is at 20:00 BST on Wednesday 21 October 2026. The match is shown on TNT Sports where selected, and a Yahoo Sports preview lists it on TNT Sports 1. If level after 90 minutes, the match ends as a draw and both sides take a point.