Rummenigge tells Bayern: Don’t make the same Man City ‘mistake’ against Atalanta | OneFootball

German Karl-Heinz Rummenigge tells Bayern Munich they should not underestimate Atalanta in their Champions League Round of 16 meeting tonight: ‘Many big clubs have made the same mistake.’

Atalanta, the only Serie A club remaining in the Champions League, will host Bayern Munich at the New Balance Arena in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tonight.

Rummenigge: ‘No more easy games’ in the Champions League

Rummenigge, a former Bayern Munich and Inter star and now a member of the Supervisory Board of the Bundesliga giants, told Gazzetta: “The important thing is not to make the same mistake many big clubs have made in the Champions League: being favourites and ending up losing. Like Manchester City against Bodo, or Borussia. A year ago, we won 2-1 away in Glasgow in the play-off first leg, then we were losing in the return leg, and we levelled the score in the final minutes to qualify. It’s a mistake that is often made. The public opinion believes it’s an easy game, but there are no more games like this.”

Atalanta already eliminated Borussia Dortmund from the Champions League knockout play-off, coming back from two goals down to secure a 4-3 aggregate win, thanks to a 4-1 win in the return leg.

“No, I didn’t expect it. Nobody should be underestimated this season,” Rummenigge continued.

BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Davide Zappacosta of Atalanta celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Atalanta BC and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio di Bergamo on February 25, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Even the so-called small teams are doing well. Nobody thought Bodo/Glimt would eliminate Inter. They won the first leg, and everyone thought the result would have changed in the return leg. On the other hand, they even won at San Siro. Those who have qualified for the Round of 16 should not be underestimated.

“Atalanta is a small team that must be respected; in the past, they also beat Bayer Leverkusen, so they must be respected in all aspects. And remember what we saw against Borussia,” he continued.

“They could have conceded even more goals in the first leg, and nobody in Germany thought Dortmund could be eliminated. In this phase of the Champions League, you need humility, respect, and focus to move forward. Bayern certainly want to do so. We are having a very good season, as we are still running in all competitions.”

Rummenigge knows Atlanta well, on and off the pitch.

“They should not be underestimated, and I also like the club’s organisation. I’ve met the Percassi family, and I like the way they see football,” he said.

CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Antonio Percassi, President of Atalanta looks on prior to the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 25, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

“They manage the club calmly and don’t go under pressure. They were also lucky to have picked Gasperini, who has played a great role in Atalanta’s success. Winning the Europa League is not normal, and I’m not just talking about the results, but also the quality of football. I see that also his successor, Palladino, is doing really well. In today’s football, you need the quality of the team, but also a quality coach, also on a human aspect.”

The winner of Atalanta-Bayern Munich will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, and Rummenigge has clear ideas about the team he’d like to face in the quarter-finals.

epa09222040 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, CEO of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on prior to the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and FC Augsburg at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, 22 May 2021 (issued 23 May 2021). EPA-EFE/ALEXANDER HASSENSTEIN / POOL DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video.

“I hope my friend Pep Guardiola will go through, but I have great respect for Real Madrid in the second part of the season. Usually, from February, you see another Real. When the decisive games arrive, Real is always Real,” he concluded.