Barcelona and Bayern Munich are set to face off in a highly anticipated Champions League matchup, with the two sides boasting impressive forms in their respective leagues. Barcelona, led by Hansi Flick, is currently sitting atop LaLiga, while Bayern Munich, with Vincent Kompany at the helm, is undefeated in the Bundesliga and has made a blistering start in the Champions League.
For Flick, who spent two seasons managing Bayern Munich before moving to Barcelona, it’s a unique experience to face his former side. He praised the job Kompany has done since taking over, stating that the German has brought an exciting brand of football to the Bavarians. “This season Bayern are playing great football under Kompany,” Flick said. “They press very high and are brave with and without the ball. It’s going to be a tough game. But we’ll try to do our best and we’re ready.”
Flick highlighted Bayern’s aggressive approach, which sees them try to impose their style and quality on their opponents. “They always play a dominant style. They try to put pressure on their opponents, they’re brave, they keep the ball,” he added.
The two teams have had contrasting starts to the competition, with Bayern experiencing a 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb followed by a shock 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, while Barcelona began their campaign with a defeat to Monaco before thrashing Young Boys 5-0 on Matchday 2.
Kompany, meanwhile, has also spoken highly of his new charges. He praised the Bianco-Verdi’s youthful side, particularly 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal, who is rapidly becoming a key figure in Catalonia. Comparing the Spanish young gun to club icon Lionel Messi, who broke through from Barcelona’s La Masia academy at a similar age, Kompany acknowledged the immense talent on display. “For my generation, Messi was one of the key figures of our era,” he said. “To shortly after my leaving already have potentially a player who can replace him is quite unique. Full credit to La Masia for always trusting these players and giving them the chance.”
However, Kompany knows that his side cannot solely focus on stopping Yamal, rather the entire team. “The question for us is not about stopping Yamal, but trying to win a game against Barcelona, which means stopping all the players, not one,” he emphasized. “The focus is on the team, not one player, but he’s an exceptional player.”
