It will be a first for FC Bayern when they take on Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening (follow the action in English from 21.00 CEST with our exclusive fcbayern.com live updates). The stadium in London has been completely rebuilt and was only inaugurated last March. “I’m a little curious about how it looks,” said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in looking forward to the arena built on the site of the venerable White Hart Lane.
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Tuesday’s match will be highly interesting, and not only because of the modern stadium. Spurs advanced to the Champions League final last season but lost to Liverpool. “It’ll be a big night on the European stage,” said sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić. fcbayern.com has compiled the most interesting facts ahead of the clash.
The situation
FC Bayern got off to a perfect start to the Champions League campaign when they beat Red Star Belgrade 3-0 two weeks ago, claiming top spot in Group B. However, Tottenham are billed as Bayern’s toughest group opponents. “It’ll definitely be a tough challenge for us,” said Rummenigge. But Bayern’s goal is clear: “We absolutely want to take points. If so we’ll be in a good position for the two upcoming matches against Olympiacos,” said Niko Kovač at the pre-match press conference.
The opponents
Tottenham’s start was not ideal, as they were held to a 2-2 draw away to Olympiacos despite a two-goal lead. The team from London must take points to stay within reach of top spot. The fans will likely count on top striker Harry Kane, “arguably the best centre-forward in the world besides Robert Lewandowski,” as Rummenigge put it.
PROFILE
Bayern’s group stage opponents Tottenham Hotspur
Team news
Ivan Perišić will be available again after recovering from illness. Lucas Hernández, who had to be subbed off at half-time in the match against Paderborn, is included in the squad but did not take part in the final training session. “He’s training individually, we wanted to wait another day,” said Kovač. Leon Goretzka (rehab after thigh surgery) and Fiete Arp (scaphoid fracture) will miss the match.
What the coaches say
Niko Kovač: “Two top teams face off at a great stadium. The pressure is a bit higher for Tottenham. We must try to enjoy the match, and if we enjoy it things usually go well. They’ll play at their own stadium, spurred on by their fans. They’ll try to put us under pressure. But their quality is high too.”
Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham Hotspur coach: “What matters isn’t how you start, it’s how you finish. Last year we had one point after three matches and advanced to the final. We must stay calm and be mentally strong when up against FC Bayern, a big club and a great team. We must enjoy playing against one of Europe’s best teams in the Champions League.”
Top fact
Recent Champions League trips have usually been successful for FC Bayern. The German record champions have not lost any of their last nine CL matches on foreign soil, winning six and drawing three. Another match without defeat would mean Bayern equal the club record of ten CL away matches undefeated from 2012 to 2014. Munich have been impressive in the group stage in recent years. Bayern have gone unbeaten in 11 group matches, winning nine and drawing two. Since 2012/13 they have taken 102 points, more than any other team, their closest rivals being Barcelona on 99.
The referee
Clément Turpin will be the man with the whistle in London, overseeing his first match in Europe’s elite club competition this season. The 37-year-old has taken charge of two matches involving FCB so far, a 1-0 victory over Atlético in 2016 and a 3-3 draw away to Ajax in Amsterdam in 2018.
