Barcelona vs Bayern Munich

In-form Barcelona will host Bayern Munich on matchday 31 of the EuroLeague. The Spaniards have clawed their way to fifth in the standings while Bayern have dropped to eighth. Below is our prediction for this match.

Barca are in great form and have boosted their playoff hopes significantly. Joan Penarroya’s men have won their last three games to improve to a 17-13 record.

They can, however, slip out of the top six any second. This is because they are tied on the same record with the three other teams directly beneath them.

Barca, who’ve compiled a dominant 10-5 record when at home, defeated Zalgiris 82-70 last week.

While Barca have been on the up, Bayern have been regressing. The German giants have slipped out of the playoff places after losing three times in their last four games.

Currently on a two-game skid, Bayern were hammered 112-89 on the road against Baskonia last time out. They are one of the teams tied on the same record with Barca. Another loss and they may end out of the play-in with three games to go.

Barcelona secured an 82-70 victory over Zalgiris in their last home game, marking their 17th EuroLeague win of the season and improving their record to 17-13. This result reflects their growing momentum, as they have now won three consecutive matches in the competition. Under head coach Joan Penarroya, the team is heading into the final stretch of the season with renewed confidence, further boosted by the return of Kevin Punter. His standout performance against Partizan has not only reinforced his own rhythm but has also uplifted his teammates.

This season, Barcelona has proven to be a tough opponent for any team. Despite a slow start and persistent injury challenges, the Catalan squad has gradually found its footing. Now, they appear more structured and cohesive, particularly on offense, where they possess multiple scoring threats. Key players such as Punter, Jabari Parker, and Chimezie Metu have made a significant impact against top-tier teams. If they maintain this form, securing a top-six spot remains a real possibility.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich comes into this matchup following a dominant 91-66 victory over Rostock in the Bundesliga—a confidence-boosting result ahead of their crucial clash with Barcelona. However, prior to that, they endured a heavy 112-89 defeat to Baskonia in Vitoria, which marked their 13th loss in the EuroLeague. With a 17-13 record, Bayern has yet to lock in a play-in spot, despite an impressive start to the season that positioned them as one of the biggest surprises alongside Paris.

Bayern's success this season has largely been driven by their dynamic backcourt duo of Carsen Edwards and Shabazz Napier. These two explosive guards have played a pivotal role in securing key victories, making their signings well worth the investment. The team also had to adjust after losing Serge Ibaka in the center position, a challenge they managed to address. However, the absence of Devin Booker has created additional hurdles, leading to inconsistencies in their performances. To stay on course for the postseason, Bayern will need to rely on their well-known offensive firepower in the upcoming games.