Lewandowki picked up a knock whilst helping Poland qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup during the March international break, but managed an hour or so of the Bundesliga leaders’s 4-1 win in Freiburgon Saturday. Rarely for him, the two-time Best FIFA Men’s Player was unable to add to his 45 goals for the campaign, a tournament-leading 12 Champions League efforts among them.

Leroy Saneand Kingsley Coman have been preferred in attacking wide roles in recent weeks, but Serge Gnabry did his chances of a starting recall no harm whatsoever with a goal and assist from the bench in Freiburg. Leon Goretzka marked his comeback after four months out with a goal but may not be the man to partner Joshua Kimmich in central midfield as head coach Julian Nagelsmann looks to manage his return.

Talking of comebacks, Nagelsmann expects to have Alphonso Davies available and could maybe even start him following a mild heart condition. Otherwise, Lucas Hernandez will almost certainly be at left-back again. The France international is also the only Bayern player at risk of suspension if booked. It remains to be seen whether Niklas Süle, a late substitute at the weekend, is fit enough to start in the centre of defence. Tanguy Nianzou would be the alternative.

Unai Emery’s Villarreal warmed up for one of the sternest tests in European football with a 2-0 defeat at Levante, making it three losses and two wins across their last five competitive fixtures. Seventh in the current La Liga standings, the Yellow Submarine and current UEFA Europa League holders finished second in Champions League Group F behind Manchester United, claiming 10 points from six games compared to Bayern’s maximum haul in Group D, before knocking out Juventus 4-1 on aggregate in the last 16.

That took their goals tally to 16, which is the second lowest of all teams left in the competition, ahead of Benfica. Bayern rattled off eight across their two-legged tie with Salzburg alone, and are the current season’s top scorers on 30. The German giants also boast the joint meanest defence, like Real Madrid conceding just five times, which doesn’t bode in the slightest bit well for Villarreal’s 13-goal Arnaut Danjuma.

He’s set to lead the line as the sole striker ahead of Gerardo Moreno and former Borussia Dortmund frontman Paco Alcacer.

  • Lewandowski is averaging a goal every 58 minutes in this season’s Champions League.
  • Bayern are appearing in the Champions League quarter-finals for a competition record 20th time.
  • The last-16 first leg draw at Salzburg was only the second of Bayern’s last 17 away European matches they have failed to win. They haven’t lost on the road in Europe since Matchday 1 of the 2017/18 Champions League groups (3-0 at Paris Saint-Germain).
  • Bayern beat Villarreal home and away in the 2011/12, before going on to reach the final.
  • Following 3-0 home and away wins over Barcelona in the groups, Bayern are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Spanish teams (W5, D2)
  • Nagelsmann reached the 2019/20 Champions League semi-finals whilst in charge of RB Leipzig, overseeing a 2-1 win over Spain’s Atletico Madrid in their one-legged quarter-final tie.

Probable line-ups

Villarreal: Rulli – Aurier, Albiol (c), Torres, Estupinan – Chukwueze, Capoue, Parejo, Trigueros – Lo Celso – Danjuma
Out: A. Moreno (knee)
Doubtful: –
Coach: Unai Emery

Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, Süle, Upamecano, Davies – Kimmich, Musiala – Gnabry, Müller, Coman – Lewandowski
Out: Sarr (knee), Tolisso (thigh)
Doubtful: Choupo-Moting (not included)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann