Harry Kane. Will he be used against Aston Villa?
Those: Imago
The memory will be there this Wednesday evening when FC Bayern play Aston Villa on the second matchday of the Champions League. There is even a reminiscence of the greatest success in the club’s 150-year history at Villa Park. The words from the original commentary by BBC reporter Brian Moore shortly before the goal in the happy 1-0 victory in the 1982 European Cup final against FC Bayern stretch across the entire width of the north stand.
Shaw, Williams, prepared to venture down the left. There’s a good ball in for Tony Morley. Oh, it must be…it is…Peter Withe!
Brian Moore, BBC-Reporter 1982
That’s what the commentator called out before Withe scored against Munich in Rotterdam’s De Kuip stadium a good 42 years ago.
Bad memories of coach Emery
In any case, the people of Munich embarked on a journey into their own past on Tuesday. Because in Birmingham they are also confronted with an unpleasant episode from their recent history.
The hosts’ coach is Spaniard Unai Emery, 52, who used clever tactics to knock out FC Bayern in the 2022 quarter-finals with FC Villarreal. For the Munich team, who were then coached by current national coach Julian Nagelsmann, the loss against the provincial club was a disgrace.
“Old School” im Villa Park
Now Bayern want to do better after their brilliant start to the season with six wins and the most recent 1-1 draw against Leverkusen at the historic site where Aston Villa has been playing since 1897. A preliminary delegation from Munich reported to CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen that Villa Park was “old school”. He is “very, very curious,” said Dreesen and admits that he knows little about his opponent:
This is a surprise egg. I have no idea what awaits us there.
Jan-Christian Dreesen, CEO FC Bayern
His colleague on the board, Max Eberl, who is responsible for sports, at least has a rough idea. “I think it will be a very intense game,” says Eberl, adding that Aston Villa are playing “very actively.” Sports director Christoph Freund expects “a thrilling game. It’s going to be really tough.” Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is preparing for a “tough fight”.
Hitzlsperger is tipping for Villa victory
Villa started the Champions League with a 3-0 win at Young Boys Bern. Bayern won spectacularly 9-2 against Dinamo Zagreb. Nevertheless, Thomas Hitzlsperger is now tipping for a 3-2 win for his former club Aston Villa, for whom he appeared 99 times in the Premier League and earned the nickname “The Hammer” with his shooting ability.
FC Bayern celebrated a shooting festival at the start of the Champions League. The Munich team around top striker Harry Kane defeated Dinamo Zagreb 9-2.18.09.2024 | 2:58 min
Villa is the pride of the city. The offensive power is impressive. It could be an open game with lots of goals.
Thomas Hitzlsperger im kicker-Interview
Emery is also “an absolute stroke of luck” for the club. Hitzlsperger wanted to take part in a celebration for the 1982 European Cup winners on Tuesday evening.
Coach Kompany is looking forward to a special game
For the first time since the 1982/83 season, Aston Villa is now playing in club football’s most important competition. “It will be a good game for our fans, for us,” said Vincent Kompany before his return to England.
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Bayern’s coach lost 3-2 at Villa Park last season with FC Burnley on December 30th. He refers to the hosts’ decades-long absence from the Champions League and suspects: “This will be special.”
Special atmosphere in Villa Park
Bayern can expect a lot of football culture and a special atmosphere in the historic stadium, which is located in a residential area and offers 42,657 seats. “There will be a fantastic atmosphere in Villa Park,” says Hitzlsperger.
Unlike on Saturday at Bayern’s 1-1 draw against Leverkusen, he can’t watch on site. Hitzlsperger will be an expert in the studio for the BBC, whose former reporter Moore is immortalized with his final commentary from 1982 in Villa Park.
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What: Reuters
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