Everyone’s looking forward to this game! On Tuesday evening FC Bayern go to Celtic for their fourth Champions League group game (20:45 CET, live on Webradio and Ticker), and everyone wants to be there. “We’ve never had such a high demand for tickets,” revealed Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who shares their excitement: “There’s a great football atmosphere in Glasgow.” However the main enjoyment from the trip should come on the pitch, as Bayern could already book their place in the last 16 with a win.
“From what everyone says, the atmosphere must be phenomenal,” said Arjen Robben, expecting a cauldron of noise to be created by nearly 58,000 fans at a sold-out Celtic Park. The Dutchman has never played at Celtic in his long career, so he’s “looking forward to the game.” But the atmosphere should just be the icing on the cake on Tuesday. “Only one thing matters: winning the game!”
“We still have enough quality”
Rummenigge is also hoping for a successful trip. “It’s important we concentrate on the game,” demanded the CEO. “If we win we’re practically through, so it’d be nice to get the three points.” If Bayern win in Glasgow and PSG avoid defeat at home to Anderlecht, the Reds will secure their place in the last 16. “We can’t allow any mistakes, we want to win all three remaining games,” stated Joshua Kimmich.
Bayern will have to overcome this hurdle without their star striker. “It’s obviously a big blow that Robert [Lewandowski] is out,” admitted Robben, who also referred to the absence of Franck Ribéry and Thomas Müller. “We’ve had to deal with a few injuries already, some of them over long periods of time. But we still have enough quality.” Coach Jupp Heynckes revealed that Lewandowski will work on recharging his batteries in Munich and should be available again on Saturday. For the match in Glasgow, the coach will “find a solution”, possibly a front two consisting of Robben and Coman. “We’ve been able to deal with absences well so far.”
“Won’t let ourselves be impressed”
Perhaps Kimmich will score again, too. The right-back headed in the decisive second goal during the 3-0 win in the reverse fixture two weeks ago. “I don’t know yet who’ll play up front. I’m prepared in any case,” he joked when asked about the alternatives to Lewandowski. “I think without Thomas and Robert it’ll be more difficult than the home game. But we can compensate for that.” Heynckes, meanwhile, is expecting Celtic to “play better” than in the last game, “particularly in front of their own fans in their own stadium. But FC Bayern are used to playing in these types of atmospheres. We won’t let ourselves be impressed.”
Bayern are on a roll anyway after five wins from five games, and are growing in confidence: “We need to take that confidence but at the same time keep our feet on the ground,” stressed Robben, warning not to see the upcoming games as foregone conclusions. “We know we’re not at our limit yet. We can and must always improve. We need to show on the pitch that we always want to make the next step up. You don’t get anything handed to you on a plate. We have to work for it.”
Celtic counting on home advantage
As for Celtic, who are equally depleted with only one centre-back currently available, they’re hoping to benefit from Bayern’s shortage in attack. “We know how good Robert Lewandowski is, and the same with Thomas Müller. They’re two key players for Bayern München,” said Dedryck Boyata on Monday. The defender is up for the fight: “We want to do better than we did in Munich. We have nothing to lose! We mustn’t be afraid. If we win then everything’s still possible.” Bayern will be doing everything in their power to stop that.
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