Bayern Munich host Arsenal at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night in the standout tie of Champions League matchday three, with both sides protecting perfect starts in the league phase. Bayern expect Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer to be available, but the German champions will be without two of their most creative players — and Harry Kane will be desperate to end a rare drought against the club he used to torment.
Kimmich and Neuer expected back, Kompany still ill
Bayern's final training session on Tuesday took place without head coach Vincent Kompany, who is resting with a viral infection, and without Kimmich — but the midfielder's absence was put down to private reasons and he is expected to be available on Wednesday, as Football London reported. Kompany's assistant Aaron Danks faced the media alongside Serge Gnabry instead, with Kompany having also missed questions after Saturday's 6-1 battering of RB Leipzig due to the infection and a hip problem.
There was better news in goal. Neuer trained as normal and looks likely to return after struggling with fluid in his foot — the veteran has not featured since the 2-2 draw with Augsburg on October 10 and has missed Bayern's last two matches.
Olise and Musiala missing for Bayern
For all the returns, Bayern's attack is weakened. Michael Olise is suspended after his red card against Viking, and Jamal Musiala will not be ready in time after his thigh problem. Kim Min-jae is also a doubt after being substituted with an unknown injury against Leipzig. Lennart Karl is expected to deputise for Olise on the right.
That puts even more weight on Kane. The England captain has scored 15 goals in 22 appearances against Arsenal, as TNT Sports noted in its preview — but he has failed to score in his last two meetings with the Gunners, including last season's 3-1 defeat in London, and Bayern's chaotic draw at Viking showed how much they need his finishing on nights like this.
Arsenal's run meets its biggest test
Arsenal arrive in Munich close to full strength, though William Saliba and Christos Tzolis remain absent as they step up their returns from back and hamstring issues. Mikel Arteta's side have won their opening two Champions League games without conceding a goal, and their run of 14 consecutive league-phase wins stretches back to a 1-0 defeat at Inter in November 2024.
Bayern, for their part, have won their last nine home league-phase matches — something has to give at the Allianz.
So what: top-eight maths and a statement game
Both clubs sit on six points, and with the league phase rewarding the top eight with a direct route to the last 16, Wednesday's winner takes a huge step towards avoiding the play-off round. For Arsenal, avoiding defeat in Munich would underline that last season's run was no fluke; for Bayern, anything less than a win at home — even without Olise and Musiala — would invite questions about whether Kompany's side can beat Europe's best with their first-choice attack broken up. Kick-off is at 20:00 UK time, with Davide Massa refereeing.
Beyond the Final Whistle: this is the tie of the round, and it may hinge on the man in the middle of Bayern's attack. Kane's record against Arsenal was built in a Tottenham shirt; in Bayern red he has drawn two blanks, and a third — in a home game his team need to win — would start to look like a pattern rather than a blip. Our call: Bayern's home run and Kane's point to prove edge a thriller, 2-1. Who are you backing in Munich — Bayern or Arsenal? Let us know in the comments.
