INTERNATIONAL: There’s more UEFA Champions’ League action on Wednesday night. Bayern Munich face Benfica in Lisbon, while a troubled Barcelona host Dynamo Kiev.
Bayern Munich will be without full back Alphonso Davies and midfielder Leon Goretzka for their Champions’ League Group E encounter. Goretzka is out with a cold, as is Davies, both being given a break to avoid fatigue due to the German champions' busy schedule in the coming weeks, but coach Julian Nagelsmann told reporters on Tuesday that star-player Lucas Hernandez is expected to feature, despite him facing a jail term in Madrid for violating a restraining order after an altercation with his wife:
"I would talk to him if I saw any anomalies, but I don't. I can only say that he is training and playing well. I think he is approaching the situation quite well and I am not that involved in it. I can only look at it from the outside. I have my own opinion, of course, but it is not something I want to share as it is his private life. As long as he is doing his job well and he is - he wants to play and he wants to win. He played well against Leverkusen and he will probably play well tomorrow. I think he is very good at separating the two things and he is approaching it well."
The Bavarians are two points clear at the top of Group E with two wins from two games. Benfica are second on four points. Dynamo Kyiv are third on one, with Barcelona still without points in last place.
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman is under no illusion that their future in this season's Champions’ League depends on Wednesday's clash with Dynamo Kiev. He knows his job is on the line, but appealed for calm, acknowledging that his side's focus is not on winning the title, but returning to a high level:
"To compete yes, but we can't demand of the team to win the Champions League because if we look at other teams that are ahead of us, we are trying to get to the same level with new and young players. As I said before, we have to recover our injured players that are still not at their best level but they are going in a good direction. All this stops our objectives but I think we have a competitive team and I believe we will get through this group stage."
Barcelona sit bottom of Group E following consecutive 3-0 losses to Bayern Munich and Benfica.
