FC Bayern Forum

FC Bayern start the third competition of the season on Wednesday and begin the third title defence of the current campaign. The German record champions entertain Atlético Madrid in the opening fixture in the Champions League. Both teams have lots of experience in Europe’s premier club competition. Bayern have started 25 times and the Spaniards are competing for the twelfth time. We bring you more interesting facts and figures ahead of matchday one in the group stage.

1. AC Milan in sight

FC Bayern won the European Cup/Champions League for the sixth time in August and are now third in the list of all-time winners level with Liverpool. Winning again would put FCB level with AC Milan in second place.

2. Lewandowski heading for new records

The UEFA Men’s Player of the Year has scored nine times in succession in the Champions League group stage. If Robert Lewandowski scores again this time then he would be the first player to find the back of the net ten times on the bounce. With his nine goals in succession he is level with Cristiano Ronaldo.

3. Starred chef Serge Gnabry

Serge Gnabry celebrates scoring with his traditional chef’s routine.

Serge Gnabry was directly involved in eleven goals in ten Champions League games last season (nine goals and two assists). Only teammate Lewandowski has been involved in more (15 goals, five assists).

4. Possible record-breaking run of wins

Last season, FCB were the first team in the history of Europe’s premier club competition to win all their games on the way to securing the title (eleven wins). That means Bayern are also the team with the longest winning run in this competition. The victory in the UEFA Super Cup makes it twelve wins in a row on the European stage - that’s a club record. Only one team has a longer run: The next opponents Atlético Madrid (16 wins in the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup from 2011 to 2012).

5. Positive overall record

FCB and Atlético Madrid meet for the second time in the group stage of the Champions League. In 2016/17 both teams won their home leg 1-0 (both went through to the next round). This will be the seventh meeting on the European stage and Bayern just have their noses in front overall. There have been three wins, one draw and two defeats (8 goals for and 4 against). The home team has always won on the own turf in this tie. The only draw came in 1974 in the European Cup final in Brussels.

6. Viva España

Bayern have played Spanish teams 14 in the Champions League group stage (eight wins, three draws, three defeats). The last defeat was against Atlético in 2016/17. FCB have not dropped a point at home since 2002 (back then a 3-2 reverse against Deportivo La Coruna).

7. Atlético with problems away

Atlético Madrid have only won two of the last ten away games in the group stages of the Champions League (plus four defeats and four draws). There has only been one victory in the last five games (one draw, three defeats) – a 2-0 scoreline against Lokomotiv Moscow in October 2019.

Here is the lowdown on Atlético Madrid