INDIANAPOLIS – The USAC Midwest Thunder Speed2 Midget Series has announced an expanded 25-race schedule, featuring events at 12 different venues across Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.

The docket begins this weekend, Feb. 28-29, indoors at the Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin for the Midwest Winter Nationals.

Two full nights of racing are on tap in DuQuoin, featuring both the MTM and the Engler IMRA Speed2 Midgets competing together in a non-points special event.

On April 17, MTM is in action at Indiana’s Bloomington Speedway alongside the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series, as will be the case on July 4 at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind.

Two trips are planned for the series at Bloomington as well, with a return on June 26.

MTM makes its debut at Indiana’s Paragon Speedway on May 1 and returns on Aug. 14.

Additional debuts take the series to U.S. 24 Speedway in Logansport, Ind., on May 23 and June 11, as well as Circus City Speedway in Peru, Ind., on Aug. 15 and Oct. 3.

The series will make visits to traditional venues Gas City (Ind.) I-69 Speedway on May 22, June 19, July 10, August 8, Sept. 11 and Oct. 2, as well as Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway on May 24 and Oct. 16.

A return to the Land of Lincoln in Illinois arrives on May 2 at Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, Ill., while the state of Ohio welcomes the Midwest Thunder series on five occasions, beginning May 8 at Limaland Motorsports Park.

Three events at Waynesfield Raceway Park set for June 14, July 2 and Aug. 22, while Atomic Speedway in Waverly, Ohio is scheduled for a Sept. 5 showdown.

Furthermore, 12 MTM events will also be USAC Midwest Regional Midget events. USAC Speed2 licensed competitors will be eligible for bonuses and will earn points toward the USAC Midwest Thunder Speed2 Midwest Thunder Midget championship in those events.

The dozen commences April 17 at Bloomington, before continuing May 1 at Paragon, May 2 at Wayne County (non-points), May 22 at Gas City, May 24 at Kokomo, June 26 at Bloomington, July 4 at Lincoln Park, Aug. 14 at Paragon, Aug. 15 at Circus City, Oct. 2 at Gas City, Oct. 3 at Circus City and concluding Oct. 16 at Kokomo.

2020 USAC Midwest Thunder Speed2 Midget Series Schedule

Feb. 28 – Southern Illinois Center – DuQuoin, Ill. ** (I)
Feb. 29 – Southern Illinois Center – DuQuoin, Ill. ** (I)
April 17 – Bloomington Speedway – Bloomington, Ind. (R)
May 1 – Paragon Speedway – Paragon, Ind. (R)
May 2 – Wayne County Speedway – Wayne City, Ill. ** (R)
May 8 – Limaland Motorsports Park – Lima, Ohio
May 22 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind. (R)
May 23 – U.S. 24 Speedway – Logansport, Ind.
May 24 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Ind. (R)
June 14 – Waynesfield Raceway Park – Waynesfield, Ohio
June 19 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind.
June 26 – Bloomington Speedway – Bloomington, Ind. (R)
July 2 – Waynesfield Raceway Park – Waynesfield, Ohio
July 4 – Lincoln Park Speedway – Putnamville, Ind. (R)
July 10 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind.
July 11 – U.S. 24 Speedway – Logansport, Ind.
Aug. 8 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind.
Aug. 14 – Paragon Speedway – Paragon, Ind. (R)
Aug. 15 – Circus City Speedway – Peru, Ind. (R)
Aug. 22 – Waynesfield Raceway Park – Waynesfield, Ohio
Sept. 5. – Atomic Speedway – Waverly, Ohio
Sept. 11 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind.
Oct. 2 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind. (R)
Oct. 3 – Circus City Speedway – Peru, Ind. (R)
Oct. 16 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Ind. (R)

** represents a non-points special event
(I) represents an event co-sanctioned with the USAC IMRA Speed2 Midgets
(R) represents an event co-sanctioned with the USAC Midwest Regional Midgets

DUQUOIN, Ill. – Brady Bacon, who’s already gotten off to a red hot start this season, has secured a ride for the fifth annual Shamrock Classic presented by Dooling Machine on March 7 inside the Southern Illinois Center.

Bacon will pilot the Kelly Hinck-owned No. 21h during the third NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series race of the season.

The 2014 and 2016 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series champion, is undefeated thus far in USAC national competition this year, capturing a two-night USAC sprint car sweep at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla., in mid-February.

The Shamrock Classic will mark the Broken Arrow, Okla., native’s first NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series appearance of 2020.

Bacon is one of just two drivers to have started in the feature event of all four previous editions of the Shamrock Classic with fourth-place finishes in both 2016 and 2017 serving as his best.

He also took 14th in 2018 and 18th in his most recent start in 2019.

Bacon, an eight-time USAC National Midget feature winner, drove for Hinck a year ago and will do so again as they chase after the $5,000 winner’s share in the Shamrock Classic.

Bacon and Hinck will also team up to compete in the March 6-7 micro sprint portion of the Shamrock Classic.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were largely quiet at the trade deadline, but they did keep one of their own, signing defenseman Jake Muzzin to a four-year contract extension.

The deal has an annual average value of $5.625 million. According to TSN, more than $16 million of the deal comes in the form of a signing bonus.

Muzzin, 30, has five goals and 17 assists in 52 game this season.

The Leafs acquired Muzzin from the Kings in January 2019.

Also Monday, Toronto acquired defenseman Calle Rosen from Colorado for goaltender Michael Hutchinson.

The Calgary Flames have acquired puck-moving defenseman Erik Gustafsson from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2020 third-round draft pick.

Chicago gets the earlier of Calgary's two second-round selections in the draft.

The Flames also shored up the blue line by acquiring 27-year-old Derek Forbort from the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional 2021 fourth-round draft pick.

Gustafsson had a breakout season in 2018-19, with 17 goals and 43 assists, becoming one of just six defensemen in the league with 60 or more points.

But this season the 27-year-old took a step back -- at a bad time in his career. He is in the final season of a two-year contract that carries a $1.2 million cap hit.

With Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Olli Maatta, Calvin de Haan and Connor Murphy all under contract through 2021-22, there was already a logjam on the blueline for Chicago. Then 19-year-old Adam Boqvist played his way onto the NHL roster.

Gustafsson had helped quarterback a productive first power-play unit for much of last season, but this year he lost that job. He had already been criticized for his defense, so losing a offensive job was another indication that he wasn't in the Blackhawks' long-term plans.

Forbort has one assist in 13 games this season, his fifth with LA.

The Flames currently hold the first wild card in the West, while the Blackhawks have faded, sitting eight points out of the second wild card.

The story of Dave Ayres just keeps getting better and better!

Surely by now you've heard all about Ayres -- the 42-year-old Zamboni driver suddenly called into action by the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

Not only did he make eight saves and help lead the Hurricanes to a 6-3 victory in Toronto, but he's also become an international inspiration. He will be honored in Raleigh on Tuesday, and now you can even purchase Dave Ayres gear!

Dave will be getting royalties, but we are also working with him to identify a kidney foundation that will receive a portion of the proceeds https://t.co/RwSNg12DA4

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 23, 2020

The reason a portion of the proceeds will go to a kidney foundation is that Ayres received a kidney transplant in 2004 -- from his mother, no less.

Fifteen years ago, David Ayres, the Zamboni driver who recently played in an NHL game, needed a kidney transplant and received the kidney from his mother.

We surprised him with a call from his mom this morning! pic.twitter.com/wU9CFkzbdC

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 24, 2020

Good luck not crying after watching that.

With the NHL's 2019-20 trade deadline on Feb. 24, stay up to date with all the moves around the league, from the blockbusters down to the moves involving minor-league players and picks. This page will be continuously updated throughout the day, including links to grades for all of the biggest moves.

• NHL trade-asset tiers: Buyers guide to the 2020 deadline, including rental trade targets, goalies and more

• Seven trades we'd like to see before the NHL trade deadline

Feb. 24: Calgary Flames-Chicago Blackhawks

Flames get: D Erik Gustafsson

Blackhawks get: 2020 third-round pick (conditional)

Feb. 24: Arizona Coyotes-Columbus Blue Jackets

Coyotes get: F Markus Hannikainen

Blue Jackets get: 2020 seventh-round pick (conditional)

Feb. 24: Anaheim Ducks-Nashville Predators

Ducks get: D Matt Irwin

Predators get: D Korbinian Holzer

Feb. 24: Philadelphia Flyers-Chicago Blackhawks

Flyers get: F Nathan Noel

Blackhawks get: D TJ Brennan

Feb. 24: Anaheim Ducks-Washington Capitals

Ducks get: D Christian Djoos

Capitals get: F Daniel Sprong

Feb. 24: Vegas Golden Knights-Chicago Blackhawks

Knights get: G Robin Lehner

Blackhawks get: G Malcolm Subban, D Slava Demin, second-round pick

Feb. 24: Columbus Blue Jackets-Anaheim Ducks

Blue Jackets get: F Devin Shore

Ducks get: F Sonny Milano

Feb. 24: Tampa Bay Lightning-San Jose Sharks

Lightning get: F Barclay Goodrow, 2020 third-round pick (Philadelphia)

Sharks get: F Anthony Greco, 2020 first-round pick

Feb. 24: Vancouver Canucks-New Jersey Devils

Canucks get: G Louis Domingue

Devils get: G Zane McIntyre

Feb. 24: Carolina Hurricanes-New Jersey Devils

Hurricanes get: D Sami Vatanen

Devils get: F Janne Kuokkanen, D Fredrik Claesson, fourth-round pick (conditional)

Feb. 24: Calgary Flames-Los Angeles Kings

Flames get: D Derek Forbort

Kings get: 2021 fourth-round pick (conditional)

Feb. 24: Florida Panthers-Dallas Stars

Panthers get: D Emil Djuse

Stars get: 2020 sixth-round pick (originally from Buffalo)

Feb. 24: Pittsburgh Penguins-Buffalo Sabres

Penguins get: F Evan Rodriques, F Conor Sheary

Sabres get: F Dominik Kahun

Feb. 24: Edmonton Oilers-Ottawa Senators

Oilers get: F Tyler Ennis

Senators get: 2021 fifth-round pick

Feb. 24: Edmonton Oilers-Detroit Red Wings

Oilers get: F Andreas Athanasiou, F Ryan Kuffner

Red Wings get: F Sam Gagner, 2020 second-round pick, 2021 second-round pick

Trade grades

Feb. 24: Montreal Canadiens-Ottawa Senators

Canadiens get: F Aaron Luchuk, 2022 seventh-round pick

Senators get: F Matthew Peca

Feb. 24: Boston Bruins-Anaheim Ducks

Bruins get: F Nick Ritchie

Ducks get: F Danton Heinen

Feb. 24: Buffalo Sabres-New Jersey Devils

Sabres get: F Wayne Simmonds

Devils get: 2021 fifth-round pick (conditional)

Feb. 24: Philadelphia Flyers-Anaheim Ducks

Flyers get: F Derek Grant

Ducks get: F Kyle Criscuolo, fourth-round pick

Feb. 24: Colorado Avalanche-Toronto Maple Leafs

Avalanche get: G Michael Hutchinson

Leafs get: D Calle Rosen

Feb. 24: Pittsburgh Penguins-San Jose Sharks

Penguins get: F Patrick Marleau

Sharks get: 2021 third-round pick (conditional)

Trade grades

Feb. 24: Philadelphia Flyers-Montreal Canadiens

Flyers get: F Nate Thompson

Canadiens get: 2021 fifth-round pick

Feb. 24: Carolina Hurricanes-Florida Panthers

Hurricanes get: F Vincent Trocheck

Panthers get: F Erik Haula, F Lucas Wallmark, D Chase Priskie, and F Eetu Luostarinen

Trade grades

Feb. 24: New York Islanders-Ottawa Senators

Islanders get: F Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Senators get: 2020 first-round pick (conditional), 2020 second-round pick, 2022 third-round pick (conditional)

Trade grades

Feb. 24: Colorado Avalanche-Ottawa Senators

Avalanche get: F Vladislav Namestnikov

Senators get: 2021 fourth-round pick

Feb. 23: Edmonton Oilers-Detroit Red Wings

Oilers get: D Mike Green

Red Wings get: F Kyle Brodziak, 2020 fourth-round pick (conditional)

Trade grades

Feb. 23: Washington Capitals-Montreal Canadiens

Capitals get: F Ilya Kovalchuk

Canadiens get: 2020 third-round pick

Trade grades

Feb. 22: Toronto Maple Leafs-Nashville Predators

Leafs get: F Miikka Salomaki

Predators get: D Ben Harpur

Feb. 21: Winnipeg Jets-Vegas Golden Knights

Jets get: F Cody Eakin

Knights get: 2021 fourth-round pick (conditional)

Feb.21: Boston Bruins-Anaheim Ducks

Bruins get: F Ondrej Kase

Ducks get: F David Backes, D Axel Andersson, 2020 first-round pick

Trade grades

Feb. 20: Florida Panthers-Tampa Bay Lightning

Panthers get: F Danick Martel

Lightning get: F Anthony Greco

Feb. 20: Montreal Canadiens-Pittsburgh Penguins

Canadiens get: F Jake Lucchini, F Joseph Blandisi

Penguins get: F Phil Varone, F Riley Barber

Feb. 19: Toronto Maple Leafs-Ottawa Senators

Leafs get: F Max Veronneau

Senators get: F Aaron Luchuk, 2021 sixth-round pick (conditional)

Feb. 19: New York Rangers-Philadelphia Flyers

Rangers get: G Jean-Francois Berube

Flyers get: Future considerations

Feb. 19: Vegas Golden Knights-Los Angeles Kings

Knights get: D Alec Martinez

Kings get: 2020 second-round pick, 2021 second-round pick (St. Louis)

Trade grades

Feb. 19: Toronto Maple Leafs-Florida Panthers

Leafs get: F Denis Malgin

Panthers get: F Mason Marchment

Feb. 18: St. Louis Blues-Montreal Canadiens

Blues get: D Marco Scandella

Canadiens get: 2020 second-round pick, 2021 fourth-round pick (conditional)

Trade grades

Feb. 18: Washington Capitals-San Jose Sharks

Capitals get: D Brenden Dillon

Sharks get: 2020 second-round pick, 2021 third-round pick (conditional)

Trade grades

Feb. 18: Winnipeg Jets-Ottawa Senators

Jets get: D Dylan DeMelo

Senators get: 2020 third-round pick

Feb. 18: Carolina Hurricanes-New York Rangers

Hurricanes get: D Joey Keane

Rangers get: F Julien Gauthier

Feb. 17: Vancouver Canucks-Los Angeles Kings

Canucks get: F Tyler Toffoli

Kings get: F Tim Schaller, F Tyler Madden, 2020 second-round pick, 2022 fourth-round pick (conditional)

Trade grades

Feb. 16: Tampa Bay Lightning-New Jersey Devils

Lightning get: F Blake Coleman

Devils get: F Nolan Foote, 2020 first-round pick (Vancouver, conditional)

Trade grades

Feb. 16: New York Islanders-New Jersey Devils

Islanders get: D Andy Greene

Devils get: D David Quenneville, 2021 second-round pick

Trade grades

Feb. 10: Pittsburgh Penguins-Minnesota Wild

Penguins get: F Jason Zucker

Wild get: F Alex Galchenyuk, D Calen Addison, 2020 conditional first-round pick

Trade grades

Feb. 5: Toronto Maple Leafs-Los Angeles Kings

Leafs get: G Jack Campbell, F Kyle Clifford

Kings get: F Trevor Moore, 2020 third-round pick, 2021 conditional third-round pick

Jan. 17: Pittsburgh Penguins-Dallas Stars

Penguins get: D John Nyberg

Stars get: F Oula Palve

Jan. 7: Montreal Canadiens-Nashville Predators

Canadiens get: F Laurent Dauphin

Predators get: F Michael McCarron

Jan. 2: Buffalo Sabres-Calgary Flames

Sabres get: F Michael Frolik

Flames get: 2020 fourth-round pick

Jan. 2: Montreal Canadiens-Buffalo Sabres

Canadiens get: D Marco Scandella

Sabres get: 2020 fourth-round pick

Jan. 2: Montreal Canadiens-Ottawa Senators

Canadiens get: F Andrew Sturtz

Senators get: D Mike Reilly

Dec. 17: Pittsburgh Penguins-Florida Panthers

Penguins get: F Kevin Roy

Panthers get: F Ryan Haggerty

Dec. 16: Arizona Coyotes-New Jersey Devils

Coyotes get: F Taylor Hall, F Blake Speers

Devils get: F Nate Schnarr, F Nick Merkley, D Kevin Bahl, 2020 first-round pick, 2021 third-round pick

Dec. 12: Detroit Red Wings-Carolina Hurricanes

Red Wings get: D Kyle Wood

Hurricanes get: D Oliwer Kaski

Dec. 2: Washington Capitals-Vegas Golden Knights

Capitals get: 2021 fifth-round pick

Knights get: F Chandler Stephenson

Nov. 30: Detroit Red Wings-Arizona Coyotes

Red Wings get: G Eric Comrie

Coyotes get: D Vili Saarijarvi

Nov. 24: Tampa Bay Lightning-Buffalo Sabres

Lightning get: D Devante Stephens

Sabres get: D Matt Spencer

Nov. 20: Chicago Blackhawks-Pittsburgh Penguins

Blackhawks get: F Joseph Cramarossa

Penguins get: F Graham Knott

Nov. 6: Detroit Red Wings-St. Louis Blues

Red Wings get: F Robby Fabbri

Blues get: F Jacob de la Rose

Nov. 1: New Jersey Devils-Tampa Bay Lightning

Devils get: G Louis Domingue

Lightning get: 2021 seventh-round pick (conditional)

Oct. 28: Detroit Red Wings-Chicago Blackhawks

Red Wings get: F Brendan Perlini

Blackhawks get: D Alec Regula

Oct. 26: Ottawa Senators-Florida Panthers

Senators get: F Jack Rodewald

Panthers get: F Chris Wilkie

Oct. 25: Anaheim Ducks-Pittsburgh Penguins

Ducks get: D Erik Gudbranson

Penguins get: F Andreas Martinsen, 2021 seventh-round pick

Oct. 22: Chicago Blackhawks-Florida Panthers

Blackhawks get: D Ian McCoshen

Panthers get: F Aleksi Saarela

Oct. 7: Ottawa Senators-New York Rangers

Senators get: F Vladislav Namestnikov

Rangers get: D Nick Ebert, 2021 fourth-round pick

Oct. 7: Vancouver Canucks-Detroit Red Wings

Canucks get: F David Pope

Red Wings get: D Alex Biega

Sept. 27: Colorado Avalanche-San Jose Sharks

Avalanche get: G Antoine Bibeau

Sharks get: D Nicolas Meloche

Sept. 24: St. Louis Blues-Carolina Hurricanes

Blues get: D Justin Faulk, 2020 fifth-round pick

Hurricanes get: D Joel Edmundson, F Dominik Bokk, 2021 seventh-round pick

The R&A announced last Friday that it has rescheduled the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship for Oct. 7-10 at Siam Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand.

The event was originally scheduled Feb. 12-15 but postponed as a result of the continued outbreak of coronavirus. 

“We will continue to monitor the situation and liaise with the authorities to ensure we can stage the championship safely in October. We are looking forward to a successful week of golf and crowning the 2020 champion,” Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, said in a statement.

The event, founded in 2018, awards its champion exemptions into the AIG Women’s British Open and the Evian Championship as well as an invitation to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Although there will be no WAAP representative for those events this year, the R&A's release started that both the 2020 and 2021 WAAP winners will be in the field at the 2021 Women's British at Royal Porthcawl.

Here's a look at what's happening in professional golf this week, and how you can watch it:

PGA Tour

Honda Classic

Thursday-Sunday, PGA National Resort and Spa (Champion), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Course specs: Par 70, 7,125 yards, designed by Tom Fazio and George Fazio (1981), redesigned by Jack Nicklaus (1990, 2002, 2006)

Purse: $7 million

Defending champion: Keith Mitchell

Notables in the field: Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Lucas Bjerregaard

Tee times: TBD

TV schedule: Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Friday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (NBC)

PGA Tour Live: Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 7:15 a.m.-6 p.m. ET

European Tour

Oman Open

Thursday-Sunday, Al Mouj GC, Muscat, Oman

Course specs: Par 72, 7,452 yards, designed by Greg Norman (2012)

Purse: $1.75 million

Defending champion: Kurt Kitayama

Notables in the field: Martin Kaymer, Min Woo Lee, Haotong Li, Pablo Larrazabal, Benjamin Hebert, Justin Suh, Thomas Detry

Tee times: TBD

TV schedule: Thursday-Friday, 1:30-3:30 a.m. and 5:30-8:30 a.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 3-7:30 a.m. (Golf Channel)

PGA Tour Champions

Cologuard Classic

Friday-Sunday, Omni Tucson National (Catalina), Tucson, Arizona

Course specs: Par 73, 7,218 yards, designed by Robert Bruce Harris (1961), redesigned by Tom Lehman (2005)

Purse: $1.7 million

Defending champion: Mark O'Meara

Notables in the field: Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Scott McCarron, Steve Stricker, John Smoltz, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie, Billy Mayfair

Tee times: TBD

TV schedule: Friday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 4:30-7 p.m. (Golf Channel)

Korn Ferry Tour

El Bosque Mexico Championship

Thursday-Sunday, El Bosque CC, Leon, Mexico

Course specs: designed by Steve Newgent (2009)

Purse: $650,000

Defending champion: Martin Trainer

Notables in the field: Davis Riley, Braden Thornberry, Marty Dou, Nick Hardy, Vince India, Byron Meth, Andy Pope, Tyrone Van Aswegen

Tee times: TBD

Asian Tour/PGA Tour of Australasia

New Zealand Open

Thursday-Sunday, Millbrook Resort/The Hills GC, Arrowtown, New Zealand

Course specs: Millbrook – designed by Bob Charles (1993), redesigned by Greg Turner (2010); The Hills – designed by John Darby (2007)

Purse: $886,743

Defending champion: Zach Murray

Notables in the field: K.J. Choi, Geoff Ogilvy, Pernilla Lindberg, Daniel Chopra, Richard T. Lee, Zach Bauchou

Tee times: TBD

Streaming schedule: Wednesday-Thursday, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. ET; Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.-midnight ET

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has said that he understands if his side are labelled as "underdogs" when they face Bayern Munich in the Champions League knockout stages on Tuesday.

Bayern had a tough start to the season, replacing manager Niko Kovac with Hansi Flick in November, but have since seen a resurgence and lead the Bundesliga. The German side won all six of their Champions League group games earlier this season, including an emphatic 7-2 away win over Tottenham Hotspur in October.

Tuesday's match is the first time that the teams face each other since the memorable 2012 Champions League final in Munich, which saw Chelsea beat Bayern on penalties.

Lampard, who captained the Blues in that 2012 final, said that Chelsea can be benefit from an underdog status in Tuesday's clash.

"I understand if people do call us the underdog because they [Bayern] are so strong. Being the underdog, it's there for us to turn it around," Lampard said.

"I think the underdog talk is better to come from outside, from people looking from out to in. When you look at their team -- the talent they are already have, the medals they already have -- maybe we don't have that experience.

"Being the underdog, if so, then it's for us to turn it around. Those are the best stories in sport."

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic did not echo his manager's comments, saying that Chelsea enter the game on an even level with the Bundesliga champions.

"It's always better to be the underdog but I don't think we are," Kovacic said. "We are similar, there is not much difference between us and Bayern."

Chelsea will be tasked with finding a way to contain Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored his 38th goal of the season in all competitions during a 3-2 win over Paderborn on Friday.

"Lewandowski is in form of his life," Flick said. "He is full of confidence. As a leader up front he is very important for us.

"He is absolutely brilliant. I don't even know how many goals he has scored this season but I know that he is way up there."

Lewandowski is the joint-top scorer in the Champions League this season with 10 goals in five games, alongside Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, who began the campaign with Austrian side FC Salzburg.

Chelsea's Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi and N'Golo Kante have been ruled out for Tuesday's match through injury.

Liverpool took another step toward their long awaited Premier League crown with a dramatic 3-2 win over West Ham United on Monday.

- When can Liverpool win the Premier League title?

The win at home put them 22 points clear of second-place Manchester City. Liverpool now need 12 points from 11 games, with the quickest way to clinch the crown is with four victories.

Liverpool's 21st straight victory at Anfield broke the record for most consecutive home league wins in English top-flight history, set by themselves in 1972. The win also equalled City's record for 18th consecutive Premier League victories.

Liverpool and West Ham exchanged early header goals with Georginio Wijnaldum giving the hosts a brief lead off Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner-kick in the 12th minute, only to see Issa Diop equalise three minutes later.

West Ham then gave the Anfield crowd another shock when Pablo Fornals' shot to the far post went just beyond the reach of Alisson for the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute.

Lukasz Fabianski had his own goalkeeper mishap when Mohamed Salah's close-range shot squirmed through his hands and legs for the 68th minute equaliser.

Sadio Mane gave Liverpool the lead for good in the 81st minute when he flicked the ball into an empty net after Alexander-Arnold hooked a cross toward the back post.

The waning moments did provide some heartstopping moments with VAR ruling Mane offside on a would-be goal and Alisson making a game-clinching save on Jarrod Bowen's counter-attack effort.

Liverpool's upcoming schedule include matches vs. Watford (a), Bournemouth (h), Everton (a), Crystal Palace (h). If both Liverpool and Man City win all their upcoming fixtures then the Reds will be champions on March 21 against Palace.

The guard of honour would then come at reigning champions City on April 5.

However, March 21 is reserved for FA Cup quarterfinal ties, so the Palace game may be postponed to a later date. If that is the case, they could win the title with a draw at Man City, then the guard of honour would come at home to Aston Villa.