Champions League: Top Two to Clash at the Emirates

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

Round five of the 2025/26 Champions League has thrown up another top two battle, and this time Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in North London.

Both teams have a 100 per cent record in Europe, and have six point leads in their domestic leagues. Bayern Munich won their last battle of the top two, beating Paris Saint-Germain last time out while Arsenal won 3-0 away to Slavia Prague. Only Bayern’s goals scored tally is keeping them top, both have a goal difference of +11 and Arsenal are yet to concede a goal in the competition.       

The Gunners come into the game on the back of a hugely impressive 4-1 victory over North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, while Bayern Munich handed out a 6-2 thrashing to SC Freiburg and, with a perfect set of Champions League 2025 results each… something is going to give on Wednesday in this SBOTOP clash of the week. 

 

Talking Points

Gunners are firing on all cylinders

What a way to come back from an international break, to beat your fiercest rivals 4-1 and, in doing so, extend your lead at the top of the Premier League table. With Manchester City slipping up it was a near perfect weekend for Arteta’s side and now they are ready to pursue the iconic domestic and European double.

Arsenal probably have the best defence in England, if not in Europe, but they are equally impressive up front and they swept away a Tottenham side, packed with defensively focussed players, with the greatest of ease. Declan Rice was imperious in the midfield but it was forward Eberechi Eze who grabbed the headlines with a derby day hat-trick, and that after Leandro Trossard had given the Gunners an early lead. 

Arteta has suffered his fair share of injuries this season, which shows just how strong his squad is. On Sunday Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli made it to the bench but there was still no sign of striker Viktor Gyokores and midfield ace Martin Odegaard, who are doubtful to make the cut on Wednesday.            

 

No Diaz for Bayern

Of course Kompany’s FC Bayern are well stocked with attacking talent too, and they showed just how devastating they can be in a 6-2 win over a usually solid SC Freiburg team. After going two goals down early in the game the Bavarians were level by the break, and they racked up another four goals in a whirlwind second half, Michael Olise making five goal contributions with two goals and three assists.

It was an oddly quiet game for Colombian ace Luis Diaz as he neither made an assist nor scored a goal. But that is of no concern to Bayern this week as the former Liverpool man is banned for this match. In a bizarre first half against PSG, Diaz scored a first half double and then he was sent off before the break for a horror tackle on PSG wingback Achraf Hakimi.

Bayern are hoping that Serge Gnabry, who missed the clash with Freiburg due to a knee injury, will be fit to step in; but Olise, who is now the joint top assists maker in the league with six, and the prolific Harry Kane are both sure to start. The England man was on target against Freiburg to make it 14 for the league season and, as a Tottenham Hotspur legend, he will relish the chance to put one over the Gunners, and add to his five Champions League goals.        

 

History

Bayern have won eight of their 14 Champions League meetings with Arsenal, losing three and drawing three. The last time they met was in the 2023/24 quarter final and it was a tight affair; the two teams played out a 2-2 draw at the Emirates before a Joshua Kimmich goal gave the Bavarians a 1-0 win back in Munich.

Both teams have won five and drawn one of their last six games and it’s hard to imagine either losing on heir current form. The hosts head into the encounter hoping for a 16^th successive home Champions League win in group stage matches…and I think they might just do it.      

 

Betting Tip

The latest Champions League 2025 betting odds rate these two teams as potential finalists, with the Gunners as the marginal title favourites. They are two irresistible forces at the moment and something will have to give.   

Bayern Munich are at odds of 3.15 to win and the Draw is at 3.40; but I’m backing the Gunners and, for a Correct Score line, 2-1 to Arsenal is priced at 8.25.  

   

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