Champions League: In Rotterdam it’s also about Leverkusen for Bayern

Striker Harry Kane’s 50th Champions League game has a special title for FC Bayern. And that is: Avoid playoffs! Because as much as the Munich football stars around Kane like to hear the premier class anthem, they won’t hear it twice in February.

Coach Vincent Kompany has estimated 18 points in order to guarantee a place in the top 8 in the new league system. And so to move straight into the knockout phase and avoid two exhausting and risky additional games for the clubs in places 9 to 24.

Kimmich: We need a win

“We won four out of six games. So we have to try to win in Rotterdam and then against Bratislava,” said Kompany before the last away game on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN) at Feyenoord’s “De Kuip” stadium. “We definitely need a win. We started the year well – and we have to continue that,” said Joshua Kimmich.

The order for Kane, Kimmich and offensive star Jamal Musiala, who was forced back into the starting line-up after two short appearances, is for the 10th place in the table. Before the penultimate matchday it was clear: “We are going there to win and to try to avoid the playoffs,” said sports director Max Eberl.

After a “crisp January” (Eberl), direct entry into the round of 16 would also have an impact on the title fight in the Bundesliga. Kompany and his team could then prepare the two top games against champions and main rivals Bayer Leverkusen (February 15th) and a week later against third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt (February 23rd) – without knockout games in the Champions League a few days before.

Is Musiala imitating Wirtz in Rotterdam?

Speaking of Leverkusen. Led by double goalscorer Florian Wirtz, Bayer won 4-0 at Feyenoord on the first premier class matchday. Will Wirtz’s DFB friend Musiala also succeed? The Leverkusen team quickly brought calm to the stands in “De Kuip” (German: The Tub) with early goals.

That’s where Eberl starts in what he expects to be a “complicated game” against the top Dutch club. “I know Feyenoord very well because I went there a lot to scout when I was sports director in Gladbach,” said Eberl. He expects “huge emotionality” and concluded: “We have to try to get control of the game. We have to fight against the crowd and an opponent who will be euphoric.”

Captain Manuel Neuer (38) also spoke about the special atmosphere in De Kuip and warned: “We will have to show everything we can to keep up the momentum from the last Champions League games.” Especially since Feyenoord is only two points behind Bayern and could overtake them with a home win.

Celebrating Kane believes in a successful business trip, before the start of which Bayern announced the commitment of Hoffenheim’s top talent Tom Bischof (19) for the coming season and until 2029. “I feel like we’re improving,” Kane said after the league’s three-win start to 2025.

Kane’s goal goal promise on the anniversary

He would like to celebrate his anniversary game in the premier class with goals. “Next time I’ll make the most of my chances,” promised the Englishman after his personal zero in the 3-2 win against Wolfsburg at the weekend. Kane has scored 34 times in the Champions League so far.

“It is extremely important that we have a lot of players in the squad who can decide games,” noted Kimmich. This also includes Musiala, whose “yes” to a new Bayern contract is expected soon. Captain Neuer already revealed that a lot will happen in Munich soon. Because bosses and players didn’t want to “tear apart a group that was working well.”