FC Bayern are facing their next big task in the Champions League. Atalanta Bergamo, an opponent not to be underestimated, awaits in the round of 16. Luis Díaz and Michael Olise make it clear that the Munich team are taking the Italian club very seriously.
For FC Bayern, the knockout phase of the Champions League begins with an away game in Bergamo. Vincent Kompany’s team must first win in Italy before the second leg is played at the Allianz Arena a few days later. After Borussia Dortmund’s elimination against Atalanta, it is clear that the Munich team is in for an intense clash.
Luis Díaz is expecting a challenging task accordingly. In an internal club interview, the winger explained: „It will be more difficult now than in the league phase because the best teams are now left. Every team in the round of 16 deserves to be here.“
The Colombian also clearly emphasized the quality of the upcoming opponents: „Atalanta is a great club – it will be a tough task for us.“ At the same time, Díaz sees an advantage in the schedule: „The fact that we have the second leg at home is very important. You can analyze what happened in the first leg and then focus on those details for the second leg at home, with our fans behind us.“
Olise: „You can feel the fans behind you“
Michael Olise is also expecting a difficult round of 16, and the attacking player made it clear that just being in this round is a clear sign of quality.
„If they are at this point in the competition, then they are a good team. We just have to be at our best level and then win,“ said the Frenchman.
The second leg in Munich also plays an important role for Olise: „It’s definitely important to have the second leg at home. If you win the first leg, it’s more difficult for them to come to the Allianz and win.“
The 24-year-old also emphasized the importance of his own fans: „And if you’re behind, you have the support at home to keep pushing. You can feel the fans behind you, that’s extra motivation.“
Joshua Kimmich had also pointed out the special atmosphere in Bergamo in the run-up to the match: „The Dortmund players said that the pitch there is relatively bad. The atmosphere there is very, very intense.“
Kick-off for the first leg is at 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. The second leg will then take place on March 18 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.