The Bundesliga balls were kept in the cupboard on Monday with the Champions League Last 16 second leg against Besiktas on the horizon (Wednesday, 18:00 CET). It meant the Bayern players used their Monday to bring some European atmosphere to Säbener Straße.
“We want to play well and win in a heated atmosphere,” said an eager Mats Hummels ahead of the visit to Istanbul. The Bavarians have real wind in their sails for the away tie following the 5-0 victory in the first leg in Munich three weeks ago as FCB look to secure safe passage to the quarter-finals.
“We have to enjoy it”
However, the German champions are not taking their Turkish counterparts lightly. “We’re not going to Istanbul for some sightseeing," declared Thomas Müller, who worked on his own on Monday, as did Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski, Franck Ribery and David Alaba. “It’s a Champions League knock-out tie. We’ll be 1,000 percent serious.”
“We have to approach the game in Turkey like it’s still 0-0,” said a determined Robben. “A 5-0 lead is comfortable, but anything can happen in football. We have to concentrate.” Bayern, though, are looking forward to a tremendous atmosphere at Besiktas’ Vodafone Park. “It’s a special stadium,” Robben acknowledged. “We have to enjoy it but at the same time not get distracted.”
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