Last season's beaten finalists Bayern Munich open their Champions League Group F campaign with a home tie against Valencia on Wednesday.
The German runners-up were defeated in the final by Chelsea last season, but they are expected to make a challenge for the title once more. They are currently the fourth-most successful side in European football, having lifted the European Cup on four separate occasions.
Bayern have also won their last five games in all competitions and sit top of the Bundesliga in the early stages of the season. Remarkably, no team has finished as runners-up in the competition more than the German club – with five second-placed finishes to their name.
Meanwhile, Valencia have never won the European Cup, but have fallen twice at the final hurdle in 2000 and 2001. They currently sit 11th in La Liga after a difficult start to the season, but they will be confident of emerging from a group that also includes Lille and BATE Borisov.
Bayern are expected to hand starts to summer signings Javi Martinez and Xherdan Shaqiri at the Allianz Arena, but Claudio Pizarro and Mario Gomez are still missing with injuries. Valencia, meanwhile, are without Fernando Gago, David Albelda and Ever Banega.
Recent form:
Bayern Munich: WWWWW
Valencia: WLDDL
Possible lineups:
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Badstuber; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Shaqiri, Muller, Ribery; Mandzukic
Valencia: Alves; Pereira, Rami, Ruiz, Cissokho; Parejo, Costa; Feghouli, Jonas, Viera; Soldado
Sports Mole says: 3-1
Matt Law
