FC Bayern is changing its usual routine ahead of the Champions League match in Stavanger. Max Eberl explains the special measure.
FC Bayern is deviating from its usual routine ahead of the Champions League away game at Viking Stavanger. Instead of holding the final training session at Säbener Straße as usual, the last session will take place directly in Norway this time.
The reason for this is the artificial turf at Viking Stadium. Bayern wants to get used to the unfamiliar conditions as early as possible before the game and is therefore traveling to Stavanger earlier than they typically do for comparable Champions League away games.
Sports Director Max Eberl explained before departure why the Munich team is deliberately deviating from its normal routine this time: “The artificial turf is a key reason why we’re holding our final training session in Stavanger. Normally, 99 percent of matches are played on natural grass fields. I’m not saying it’s a different kind of game, but the conditions are certainly different from those on regular fields. So it only makes sense for us to fly there and hold our final training session there.”
With this, Eberl once again confirms the significance the unfamiliar surface holds in Bayern’s planning. Vincent Kompany had already made it clear before the trip that the artificial turf is influencing their preparations.
Bayern want to get used to the conditions early on
Kompany even revealed just how unusual the situation is for him personally. “In my 20-year career, I’ve never played on artificial turf. That’s why it’s better to train there once and know what kind of cleats to wear,” explained the Bayern coach.
That’s exactly why the Munich team doesn’t want to leave anything to chance this time. For Viking Stavanger, artificial turf is part of everyday life, while Bayern play their competitive matches almost exclusively on natural grass.
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Kompany hopes the additional on-site training session will provide practical insights above all else. The ball can behave differently on artificial turf, and the right footwear also plays a role. The Belgian had therefore already announced: “We want to gather as much information as possible before the game in Norway.”
For Bayern, the match in Stavanger is also about getting back on track after the disappointing 2-2 draw in Augsburg. Following the loss of points in the Bundesliga, the next challenge in the Champions League awaits immediately.
Despite the unusual preparation, however, Kompany refuses to let the external conditions serve as an excuse. His message ahead of the match was clear: “Whether it’s in America or Norway, whether the sun is shining or not—it doesn’t matter. We want to be Bayern everywhere.”
With this change of plans, the Munich team is at least ensuring that the artificial turf will no longer be a completely unknown factor when the match kicks off.