Champions League: Bavaria’s round of honor on the round of 16 – “blatant atmosphere”

At Vincent Kompany, FC Bayern’s royal classroom tingles in a football culture. “It was one of the loudest away games that I have ever had in my career as a player,” said the Munich coach before the sparkling playoff exam at Celtic Glasgow. “We also do this job because of this. These moments are incredible ways to achieve and experience something.”

During the final training session, the Belgian with the ball looked like he would like to kick in the first leg on Wednesday (9:00 p.m./DAZN).

After two years: Another away win in the KO game?

In the energetic Celtic Park, in which Kompany lost 1: 3 as a 17-year-old in November 2003 with the RSC Anderlecht, the German football record champion does not only want to lay the foundation for the late round of 16 six days before the second leg.

The starring ensemble also wants to do a barren Ko-round record in the duel around the league summit against Leverkusen: the last away win in all-or-not games was two years ago. On February 14, 2023, Bayern won 1-0 at Paris Saint-Germain under coach Julian Nagelsmann.

“Anyone who underestimates the Scots has never experienced them in Celtic Park. This atmosphere is insane; this will be a real highlight,” said Thomas Müller, who was particularly excited to the charter with the flight number AZ 8964.

Curiously, the 35-year-old record-Bayer Müller stands as well as the almost 39-year-old captain Manuel Neuer before his premiere in the “Paradise” against Celtic, sold out with around 60,000 spectators. “It must be a blatant atmosphere and a great stadium,” said Neuer.

Coman has good memories

The two royal class veterans were injured on October 31, 2017 when Munich around goal scorer Kingsley Coman and Joker Joshua Kimmich won the last duel with 2-1 in the group phase. In contrast, there was a lot of frustration abroad in the Reformed league company in Europe’s Krösus league this season. At Aston Villa (0: 1), at FC Barcelona (1: 4) and recently at Feyenoord Rotterdam (0: 3) it set sensitive flaps.

“We have great respect. We noticed at Feyenoord what a stadium can radiate that it can certainly lead to special energy,” warned sports director Max Eberl. The 3-0 against Werder Bremen at the start of the Green Week increases confidence.

The championship promised by honorary president Uli Hoeneß has become even more likely given the eight points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, for the next title project the mandatory task in Glasgow must be solved.

Month with masterly shine?

“It gives a good feeling for Glasgow and Leverkusen,” said President Herbert Hainer a possibly masterly month ago, in which the league summit on Saturday in Leverkusen lost shine and explosiveness. In February, there are a home game against Frankfurt and the trip to Stuttgart.

“This is definitely a hot dance and I hope the better end is with us,” said CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, who fully explained the “title Dahoam” for May 31. “I think the players know what to do. We want to go to the round of 16. Now we are doing a round of honor.” In the event of a progress, Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid would be the next – and probably more difficult – task in the round of 16.

Alan McINally is fascinated

Cult kicker Alan McINally, who ran for Bavaria and Celtic, does not believe in a “walk” against the 54-time Scottish champion. “Bavaria has great pressure and is reluctant to slip into these playoffs. I think Bavaria would have preferred to take a week free instead of having to go to Celtic Park,” said the former striker.

At home, the team around the former Bayern amateur player Nicolas Kühn and the former Augsburg Arne Engels defeated RB Leipzig 3-1. In Dortmund, on the other hand, Glasgow went down 1: 7.

In addition to the “enthusiastic environment”, Eberl warned of the “physicality” of the green-whites. “I’m not intimidated now, I’m just happy,” said national player Aleksandar Pavlovic. None of the stars whines about exertion of the extra round, rather there is a lot of anticipation to listen to the attractive task.

It is no different with the leader of the Scottish Premiership. After a protest against the Rotperre, coach Brendan Rodgers can now plan Maeda with the Daizen Maeda, which is indispensable for the offensive. Back from Stade Rennes is the Portuguese Jota.

“We know that we will meet fantastic players, but the stadium will be filled with 60,000 spectators. We draw energy from it,” said Rodgers before the fifth duel between Bavaria and Celtic. The balance sheet: three Munich victories and a draw.