In mid-September, both Aston Villa and Bayern Munich confidently defeated their opponents in the first round of the UEFA Champions League, scoring a combined 12 goals. In Birmingham, the more star-studded Munich side should create more dangerous opportunities, but the English team is capable of putting up a strong resistance.
Aston Villa have only suffered one defeat in their eight matches this season (a 0:2 loss to Arsenal), so betting on a Bayern Munich win might not be the best idea. Against Young Boys away (3:0), the English side had no trouble, generating 2.26 xG and taking 20 shots, even with key players like Jhon Durán, Emiliano Buendía, and Leon Bailey starting on the bench. In the Premier League, the team ranks in the top 6 for expected goals (12.83), and seven out of their eight matches this season have gone over 2.5.
On Saturday, Bayern Munich's six-match winning streak from the start of the season was interrupted. At home against dangerous Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1:1), Bayern Munich deserved another three points, but solid defending by their opponents left them without a win (1.16 against 0.14 xG). Clearly, the trip to Birmingham will be a challenge for Harry Kane, the England captain, who has tallied 12+4 in his last nine games for club and country.
This high-profile match will draw plenty of attention, and the attacking styles of Aston Villa and Bayern Munich promise an exciting and high-scoring affair. Both teams are likely to score at least three goals.
