Peeeep!

Rio Ferdinand is all excited and excited at TNT. The players are on their way out, led by two world champions: Emi Martínez and Manuel Neuer. Villa Park rocks.

Just a few more minutes… Prepare your cup of chamomile or whatever works.

Richard Hirst would like to see a particular person back at the cottage: “Don't worry about how Kane is doing, what about poor Joao sitting on the Bayern bench instead of gracing Fulham's midfield as we march up the table.” Don't worry Joao, we do will have you back.”

Ben Fisher reports on one of the central subplots of the evening.

The question was about Harry Kane and the simple answer was one of typing, but instead Ollie Watkins paused before offering a candid assessment of the nuanced dynamics at play. For Watkins, Kane is his England captain, a teammate but also, to put it bluntly, the guy he is trying to displace.

How is Harry Kane doing in Germany this season? Five goals in five league games, four in a Champions League game and also one goal in the cup. He was an injury concern early in this game but is starting.

Bayern are making two changes compared to the 1-1 draw against Leverkusenwith Konrad Laimer and Kingsley Coman; Raphaël Guerreiro and Jamal Musiala go to the bench. Villa have one change from the 2-2 draw against Ipswich: 19-year-old Jaden Philogene replaces Leon Bailey.

The teams

preamble