FC Bayern will face Arsenal at home in the Champions League this Wednesday evening. The record champions are looking to make a statement and secure an important victory against one of the strongest opponents currently in world soccer.
But it won’t be easy, because in addition to Michael Olise, who is suspended, Joshua Kimmich will also be missing. The Bayern Munich midfielder will have to sit out this crucial match due to a family bereavement.
On the bright side, Manuel Neuer is good to go; he’s feeling fine and has reported that he’s fit, even after being cleared to play on Wednesday. According to reports, he will play.
Kane on the hunt for a record
With two key players missing from Bayern’s lineup, it will be all the more important for players like Luis Diaz and Harry Kane to deliver their best possible performances on the field.
The Bayern striker, who has a very good chance of winning the Ballon d’Or—which will be awarded on Monday—is already on a record-breaking run in the Champions League and aims to continue improving his stats.
Kane has currently scored in nine consecutive Champions League matches. That ties him for second place with Robert Lewandowski—who achieved this feat twice while playing for Bayern—and Ruud van Nistelrooy (2002–03).
The record is held by a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored in 11 consecutive Champions League matches from June 2017 to April 2018. The Portuguese star is already the all-time leading scorer in this competition, with 140 goals. Kane, who currently has 57 goals, will not reach that mark. However, he can challenge Ronaldo for the record for the longest scoring streak.
Of course, that would require a goal against Arsenal. And the Gunners boast one of the best defenses in all of Europe, having conceded only five goals in the league so far and having been outstanding defensively last season as well. That’s why it will be a monumental task for Kane.