FC Bayern is generating a lot of excitement ahead of its Champions League away match against Viking Stavanger. For the Norwegian champions, the showdown with the German record champions is clearly much more than just another Champions League game. Coach Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim even calls it possibly the biggest game in the club’s history. Captain Zlatko Tripić also waxes poetic when talking about the Munich team.
The two teams will face off in Norway on Tuesday evening. While Bayern aims to get back on track after their 2-2 draw against FC Augsburg, Viking is set to experience one of the absolute highlights of its club history so far.
The club officials are well aware that the hosts are clear underdogs going into the match. Nevertheless, they have no intention of going down without a fight.
“In soccer, anything is possible.”
At the press conference ahead of the Champions League clash, coach Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim made it clear just how significant the match against FC Bayern is for his club. “Throughout its history, Viking has played big games against Barcelona (1992) and Chelsea (2002), but I believe tomorrow’s game will be the biggest in our history,” explained the Norwegian.
In doing so, the coach is placing the matchup against the German record champions above even the club’s previous international highlights.
Aarsheim is particularly impressed by Munich’s quality on the field. “Bayern is an incredibly good team. We want to embrace this challenge with enthusiasm and face them together as a team,” emphasized the Viking coach.
Despite the clear disparity in strength, the Norwegian doesn’t want to give up hope of an upset.
“A very difficult task, but anything is possible in soccer,” Aarsheim clarified.
“Perhaps the best team in the world!”
Captain Zlatko Tripić was also impressed ahead of the matchup against Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and company.
The 33-year-old sees the match as an extraordinary opportunity to test himself against Europe’s best players. “It will be an incredibly good test for us against some of the world’s best soccer players and the team that is perhaps the best in the world right now,” Tripić explained.
What’s particularly noteworthy is how clearly the Viking captain describes the difference in quality between the two teams.
“We’re looking forward to it and want to prove ourselves against a team that plays at a level we’ve never faced before,” the forward emphasized.
In doing so, Tripić makes it clear that even the Norwegian champions’ previous international experiences are hardly comparable to the challenge ahead.
Bayern’s offense commands great respect
The Munich team’s attacking quality, in particular, has made a strong impression on the hosts.
With Harry Kane and Michael Olise, coach Vincent Kompany has two players who rank among the top attacking talents in European elite soccer.
Tripic also explicitly highlighted the individual qualities of Bayern’s roster. “They have players who are among the top contenders for the Ballon d’Or—an extremely potent attack,” explained the Viking captain.
Despite this great respect, however, Stavanger intends to play boldly and look for its own opportunities. “We’ll rise to this challenge. We need to have confidence and believe that we can come away with something,” Tripić emphasized.
In closing, the captain struck a defiant tone: “But I firmly believe that we’re strong enough to stand up to them.”
For FC Bayern, it should be clear that the Munich team will face a highly motivated opponent in Stavanger. While the hosts are hoping for a historic evening, Vincent Kompany’s team aims to live up to its role as favorite and secure more points in the Champions League.