„Don’t underestimate them!“: Rummenigge warns of Bundesliga fright Bergamo | OneFootball

FC Bayern kick off the knockout phase of the Champions League on Tuesday evening, but Atalanta Bergamo await in the first leg of the round of 16, an opponent that will not be taken lightly at Säbener Straße. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has also urged caution ahead of the match

The former CEO and current FC Bayern supervisory board member sees the Italian club as an unpleasant opponent – despite the Munich side being favorites

Speaking to the Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport, the 70-year-old stressed that Atalanta should not be underestimated. „It’s a smaller team that deserves respect,“ explained Rummenigge. At the same time, he warned against taking the task too lightly: „It’s a team that should not be underestimated. In recent years, they won the Europa League final against Leverkusen, which was deserved in every respect. And then what we saw against Borussia Dortmund – nobody in Germany would have thought that Dortmund would be eliminated. “

Especially in the Champions League, being too relaxed with supposedly weaker opponents can quickly be punished. „There are no more games like that“

Rummenigge sees the mental approach as a decisive factor for success in the knockout phase. „Humility, respect and concentration are crucial,“ explained the former Bayern boss. The biggest danger is that games are portrayed from the outside as being easier than they actually are. „That often happens: public opinion also tells you that a game is easy – but there are no such games anymore.“

Bayern with a positive record against Italian teams

photo: IMAGO

The clash with Atalanta is a first for FC Bayern, as the two clubs have never met in an international competition before

However, a look at their recent history against Italian teams should be encouraging for the Munich side. The German record champions have prevailed in four of their last five knockout matches against Serie A teams, only losing to Inter Milan in the quarter-finals last season

In terms of personnel, Munich will still be without Manuel Neuer in Bergamo. The captain tore a muscle fibre in his calf in the Bundesliga match against Borussia Mönchengladbach and will miss the first leg, meaning Jonas Urbig will once again be in goal

In attack, however, Bayern can once again rely on Harry Kane. The top English striker returned to the squad in time after a short injury lay-off and is expected to play an important role in the first leg of the round of 16.