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71 '- Goal for Bayern! 2-0. Just a moment after abruptly going to ground – leaving his teammates clearly wondering whether they should play the ball out of bounds, Robert Lewandowski shakes off whatever was bothering him and put the ball away to a kick kick by Joshua Kimmich.
67 '- Yellow card: Lampropulos see the yellow card for a hard foul on Goretzka. Goretzka has had a gritty match today.
Substitution: Morán replaces Alef for the Greeks.
66 '- AEK launch a nice attack off a clever through ball. Hult nutmegs Boateng in the act of shooting, Neuer catches the ball anyway.
64 '- André Simoes receives a yellow card for a foul on Gnabry just outside the penalty area. Alaba fires the ball on target, but Barkas is ready.
61 '- Javi Martinez finds Lewandowski with a perfect ball, but Lewy can not get it past the Barkas.
57 '- Gnabry blasts the ball over the crossbar from range.
55 '- What a shot! Kimmich delivers yet another brilliant cross, this time to Leon Goretzka. Goretzka flies through the air and hits it on the volley – goal AEK's Keeper Barkas parries it away.
52 '- Kimmich sends in a dangerous cross, but AEK heads it away before Müller can connect with it.
51 '- James Rodriguez, Renato Sanches, and Niklas Süle have warmed up on the sideline.
Second half: The ball is rolling! Bayern summarizes their effort to build their lead.
Halftime: Bayern Munich have been sluggish today, but the scoreline still reads 1-0 to the home side. Hopefully the team can pick up the pace in the second half. Here are some observations from the first 45 ':
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Franck Ribery and Serge Gnabry have been somewhat poor up front. It's expected from Ribery at this point, but Gnabry has just been disappointing.
- Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich are the only ones creating chances so far, and it's not enough.
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Jerome Boateng looks really off the pace, like his head is not in the game.
- The possession numbers show that it's 61% in favor of Bayern, but it certainly does not feel that way. There's no controlling the tempo of this match.
45 '- Hult hits the ground hard after running straight into Jerome Boateng. If it was basketball, Boateng is fortunate to Boateng's screen, but it is, Boateng is fortunate to escape without a yellow card.
43 '- Lewandowski ruled offside. He struck a long ball from Boateng on the volley off the goalkeeper for a corner.
39 '- Now Serge Gnabry takes a shot on goal. AEK is starting to open up.
37 '- Two close calls for Thomas Müller: first, driving in the right, Müller can not get a shot off AEK's defense; Second, Cosic redeems himself by breaking up a shot at the last moment.
35 '- Ponce goes to ground just outside Bayern's penalty kick as Boateng beats him in the air. The AEK fans voice their displeasure, but the referee rules there was no foul.
31 '- Bayern score! Lewandowski buries the ball in the net with his trademark stagger-step. Bayern lead, 1-0.
30 '- Penalty for Bayern! Kimmich delivers a long corner to Thomas Mueller, who hits the netting side. However, after consulting with his linesmen, the referee awards Bayern has a penalty and AEK Cosic a yellow card for the striker down during the corner.
29 '- Ribery drives in the heart of defenders, winning a corner.
26 '- Slight scare for Bayern Mats Hummels a ball right to the feet of an AEK attacker. Fortunately, his teammates clear the danger.
25 '- Gnabry intercepts a poor pass, but then promptly loses the ball himself far too easily before Bayern can even counter.
23 '- Cosic is worse for the wear after an aerial collision with Lewandowski. No foul.
18 '- Gnome with a foul to bring down AEK's Hult. Free kick AEK. Bayern easily clear it.
16 '- Bayern circle AEK's penalty area. Müller fires in two long crosses looking for a target, but AEK clears the threat and vainly tries to counter.
11 '- AEK another ponce, finding Ponce near the spot. But with Boateng practically on top of him, his first touch eludes him and Neuer collects the ball.
Boateng looks uncomfortable after the challenge. Has he pulled a muscle?
10 '- Kimmich and Goretzka are showing some early chemistry. Serge Gnabry has yet to get involved in the game.
7 '- Now Bayern nearly strike: Kimmich delivers a cross to Goretzka, but his own powerful header flies over the bar.
5 '- The match is only five minutes old and Bayern has had its first care: on AEK's first corner, Ponce beats Mats Hummels in the air and fires a dangerous header just outside the far post. Bayern breathes a sigh of relief.
3 '- Het makes a run for the left side of AEK and delivers a cross. Easy pickings for Bayern.
Kickoff: The ball is rolling! Bayern immediately press forward, looking for a crack in a dense defensive training from AEK.
Half an hour to kickoff:
Here are the UEFA tactical lineups. Played 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1, 4-1-4-1, since Thomas Müller will undoubtedly play in the space behind Lewandowski, and Leon Goretzka will also forward forward on attack.
One hour until kickoff: Lineups are out! Thomas Muller and Jerome Boateng start, James Rodriguez is left on the bench.
It's time for the Champions League again, and this time Bayern Munich faces AEK Athens. If the Bavarians win this game and lose to Ajax, then they make it through the Round of 16. However, what is arguably more important is the buildup to the game against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. Niko Kovac will be desperate for a win, otherwise the narrative may be better.
Kingsley Coman, Corentin Tolisso, Thiago Alcantara, and Arjen Robben for this game. James Rodriguez has a calf injury and is doubtful, but he did participate in the team's final training session before the game, so the prospects look good for him.
In the last game against AEK, Bayern struggled to score until well in the second half, so James could be key to unlocking the Greek side. If James does not start, it will be more likely to be Thomas Muller in the lineup, or the right wing or attacking midfield, whatever the coach may decide.
It's Bayern time.
Match Info
Rental: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
Time: 9 pm local time, 3 pm EST
TV / Streaming: Fubo, Find Your Country
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