Opta Big Match Stats: Muller and Bayern to finish job

1May 2013

Bajnokok Ligája

The second Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Bayern Munich gets the Opta treatment from Christian Crowther...

Barcelona have won only one of their last six Champions League games (three draws, two defeats)

Okay, so that win was a 4-0 round-of-16 second-leg thumping of AC Milan but, still, Barcelona's waning air of dominance was fully evaporated by the time Bayern Munich had finished with them at the Allianz Arena last Tuesday. Worse still, Barca's triumph over the Italians represents the sole victory in the last seven knockout games that the Catalans have contested at Europe's top table. And, as if the superiority of the Germans wasn't clear enough in that 4-0 trouncing of Tito Vilanova's side last week, the weight of history is against the Spaniards too; it's only one win in seven previous meetings for the hosts against Bayern.

Best Bet: Lay Barcelona to win @ 1.86

Bayern Munich have scored more goals than any other side in the Champions League this season (26)

It's no coincidence that Bayern are the Champions League top scorers given the attacking talent that this squad possesses. Goals can arrive from all over the park for this side, from the feet of wing wizards Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery through to Mario Gomez and Mario Mandzukic up front, while seasoned campaigner Claudio Pizarro has weighed in with seven goals in the space of a month ahead of this trip to the Camp Nou. Even without their own top goalscorer this season Mandzukic - suspended for the home leg - the Bavarians still managed to rattle four past Barcelona just over a week ago.

Thomas Muller has been directly involved in 54.5% of Bayern Munich's goals in the knockout stages of the Champions League this season, six out of 11 (four goals and two assists)

Alongside compatriot Mesut Ozil, Muller was England's chief scourge in that World Cup demolition in South Africa almost three summers ago now. The versatile attacker can be deployed either as a wide man or, as he did so effectively in the first-leg, as an auxiliary striker where he is so hard to pick up. Muller possess two quick feet, as do the vast majority of this special Bayern side, but also provides a real threat from crosses or set pieces with his head. While he has not always started in the Bundesliga, Muller has been Jupp Heynckes go-to man in this competition and the wise old manager has been duly rewarded with seven goals to date, the most out of any of his squad in the Champions League this season.

Recommended Bet: Back Thomas Muller to score @ 4.0