Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
Bayern Munich’s recent sequence of emphatic wins is likely to unsettle Pafos. The Greek side opened the group stage of the Champions League with a creditable 0:0 draw away to Olympiacos, but even with home support they look set to find it extremely difficult against Bayern Munich.
Pafos
Back in the Champions League qualifying play-off round, Pafos only edged past Crvena Zvezda (3:2 on aggregate), losing in xG (0.60-0.88) in the second leg on home soil (1:1). Against Olympiacos they were down to ten men from the 26th minute, and before the interval the veteran defender David Luiz was forced off with an injury. Pafos were fortunate not to concede in Piraeus, allowing 1.52 xGA — on Tuesday Bayern Munich’s clinical finishing is unlikely to be as forgiving of the underdogs.
Bayern Munich
Last Friday, Bayern Munich opened the Bundesliga round with a comprehensive 4:0 win over SV Werder Bremen. That made it six matches in a row in which they have scored at least three. In the Bundesliga they have yet to drop a point, generating 16.74 xG across five matchdays. In the Champions League, Bayern Munich beat Chelsea (3:1) in the opening round of the group stage, with Harry Kane scoring twice.
Pafos vs Bayern Munich Prediction
The opening stretch of the season shows Bayern Munich are creating chances even without Jamal Musiala. Pafos, operating in a 3-5-2, look likely to concede at least three against Bayern Munich — the gulf in quality is plain to see.
