Head coach Vincent Kompany knows it will be “difficult” for Bayern Munich to improve on their 2025/26 season, having scored 122 goals in the Bundesliga to become German champions by 16 points and won the German Cup.
As Bayern prepare to face a potential Champions League rival in Aston Villa at Kawloon’s Kai Tak Sports Park, Kompany says Die Roten’s aim is to build on their semi-final defeat in their European campaign last time out, losing a thrilling tie to champions Paris Saint-Germain.
“Right now, I’d say our aim is to win the Champions League,” outlined Kompany. “There’s no doubt about that.
“Throughout the season, I’ll be saying we need to focus on the next match. To achieve that – to win the Bundesliga, the cup and the Champions League – we need the whole squad to be fit and healthy.
“We need to make good use of them and improve the squad. We’ve already done that… hopefully it will help us achieve our goals.”
Villa have beaten an Indonesia XI and Thai side BG Pathum United on their Asian tour, which defender Matty Cash says has been a “really good” chance to “experience different cultures” despite the intense heat.
“[Bayern are] probably one of the best teams in the world at the minute, so it’s a great test for us,” added Cash.
“We’ve been team bonding because we’ve had a lot of changes this year, with players going and new players coming in.
“It’s good to see them settle in and we’re looking forward to another strong season.”
Bayern Munich v Aston Villa team news
Kompany says he “loves” back-up goalkeeper Jonas Urbig but Manuel Neuer will start in goal as captain against Villa.
Joshua Kimmich missed training with a minor groin strain and Bara Ndiaye was rested because of a knock to the midfielder’s knee.
Forwards Harry Kane and Michael Olise, defender Dayot Upamecano and wingers Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry are not expected to play as they continue to rest following the World Cup.
Wideman Alphonso Davies and new striker Ismael Saibari are in Munich working on their fitness.
Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara returned from injury and scored as a second-half substitute against Pathum in Bangkok on Tuesday.
Fears have been allayed that captain John McGinn’s knee injury in that game was serious, although the midfielder’s involvement this time is in doubt.
Bayern Munich v Aston Villa predicted line-ups
Bayern starting XI: Manuel Neuer, Vincent Manuba, Filip Pavic, Kim Min-jae, Hiroki Ito, Joao Palhinha, Tom Bischof, Felipe Chavez, Guido Della Rovere, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, Luis Diaz
Aston Villa starting XI: Marco Bizot, Matty Cash, TJ Carroll, Victor Lindelof, Triston Rowe, Lamare Bogarde, Joao Gomes, Alysson, Emiliano Buendia, Alejandro Garnacho, Evann Guessand
Where to watch Bayern v Villa: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Friday is at 13:00 BST (08:00 ET / 05:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on VillaTV for £6.99.
Bayern v Aston Villa stats
- Both competitive encounters between the teams have resulted in 1-0 Villa wins, most recently in the league phase of the Champions League in October 2024
- The previous edition was the 1982 final of the European Cup – now the Champions League – in Rotterdam
- Villa faced two German clubs in pre-season in 2025/26, losing 3-1 at Hansa Rostock and drawing 2-2 with Frankfurt in Louisville
- They avoided German opposition in last season’s Europa League until the final, beating Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul
- The Villans have won five and lost two of their competitive meetings with German teams, prevailing in each of the last three
- Bayern’s sole fixture against an English club in pre-season 2025/26 resulted in a 4-0 win over Tottenham in Munich, Kane scoring once against his former club
- In their two meetings with English teams in the 2025/26 Champions League, Bayern won 3-1 at home to Chelsea in their opening match of the campaign and lost 3-1 at Arsenal on Matchday 5
- They have won 29, lost 18 and drawn 19 of their competitive fixtures against English teams, although they are without a victory in their last three such games outside of Munich
- One of the last 40 of those matches has been 0-0: a draw at Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 in 2019
- Since then, Bayern have scored in 13 of their 14 competitive games against English opponents, the exception being a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals in 2023
Bayern v Aston Villa prediction
Bayern have played fewer warm-up games than Villa, have slightly longer until their league season begins and are without more of their key players than the English side, so Unai Emery’s team are perhaps likelier to shade this friendly. With lower stakes and greater potential for experimentation, expect more goals than there have been in those two competitive versions of this contest.
Prediction: Bayern 2-3 Villa
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