UEFA Champions League preview: Lyon vs. Bayern Munich
Josh McNally
Europe;Lisbon, Portugal

Tonight, at the empty Estadio Joao Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal, Bayern Munich take on Lyon in the semifinals of this year's UEFA Champions League. How the two teams got here make the game difficult to preview as the outcome feels like it has already been decided.

To qualify, Bayern Munich had to face La Liga's FC Barcelona and they did the tune of 8-2, a record loss for Barcelona. It wasn't simply that they scored and scored and scored, it's that the German side dominated every facet of play. Yes, they did concede two, however one was a mistake by David Alaba while defending a cross and the other was a moment of individual skill from Barcelona's when his side were already 3-0 down and Bayern were cruising.

Leading the charge was Robert Lewandowski, the most complete player in the Champions League this year. He is the top scorer with 14 and his nearest competitor to that title remaining in the tournament is the player often found a little behind his right shoulder, Serge Gnabry on seven. This is a team that knows how to score and they do so by working in manager Hansi Flick's smothering tactical system.

Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller (C) celebrates with Serge Gnabry on his back after scoring in their historic 8-2 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal victory over FC Barcelona at the Estadio da Luz on August 15, 2020. /Getty

Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller (C) celebrates with Serge Gnabry on his back after scoring in their historic 8-2 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal victory over FC Barcelona at the Estadio da Luz on August 15, 2020. /Getty

If there is a weakness, it's that the German champions press so hard and so consistently that they maintain a high back line – how else do you think it was possible for defenders Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich to score their side's fourth goal? - which a pacey Lyon player such as Memphis Depay or Karl Toko Ekambi could exploit.

Attacking at speed on the counter is how they overcame Manchester City 3-1 on Sunday, but City rely far more on holding possession that Bayern do and it's fair to say that pep Guardiola is no longer the tactical genius he once was. When City is compared to Bayern on mood alone, it's clear that the Premier League said are far more insecure and prone to overthinking things than the swaggering Bayern.

All that said, if there is a side remaining in the tournament who could upset Bayern, it's Lyon. Having finished Ligue 1 in the worst position this century, nobody expected much success from them at all. Now, in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League, it's clear success in Europe was always their target and they have stayed calm and composed in the face of much larger teams. They have the will, can they find a way?