“They play without fear”: Kompany and Neuer warn against Bodø/Glimt | OneFootball

FC Bayern kicks off the new Champions League season on Thursday against Bodø/Glimt. On paper, the situation could hardly be clearer: The German record champions are the clear favorites at their home stadium, the Allianz Arena. However, Vincent Kompany and Manuel Neuer have strongly warned against underestimating the Norwegian league leaders.

Kompany studied the upcoming opponent closely in the run-up to the match and was thoroughly impressed. “Bodø/Glimt is a great story for soccer,” the Bayern coach explained at the pre-match press conference.

The more his coaching staff studied the Norwegians, the more their on-field success made sense: “The more you analyze them, the more you realize that it all makes sense,” Kompany emphasized.

The Belgian particularly highlighted their tremendous work rate and aggressive pressing. “Every player can cover a lot of ground; every player wants to defend and press. They have a clear game plan, and the players clearly buy into it,” the 40-year-old analyzed.

Kompany impressed by Bodø’s development

Kompany finds it particularly remarkable that Bodø/Glimt has now made it to the biggest stage in European club soccer, especially given their financial circumstances. “With the money they have at their disposal, they really shouldn’t be able to keep up with the other teams, but they do—that’s the biggest compliment you can give.”

In fact, the Norwegians have proven time and again in recent months that they can hold their own even against high-profile opponents. From Bayern’s perspective, it is precisely these experiences that make Bodø a dangerous opening-round opponent.

The Munich team must therefore prepare for a squad that is unlikely to simply sit deep and play for a draw. Kompany expects, rather, an opponent with a clear game plan and the confidence needed to execute it even at the Allianz Arena.

Neuer also cautioned against dismissing Bodø as an underdog simply because of the difference in financial resources.

“Our analysis of the opponent isn’t complete yet. We know we’re facing a strong team. They’re almost entirely Norwegian—they can fight, but they also play good soccer.”

Neuer: “They play without fear”

The Bayern captain was particularly impressed by the mentality of their Champions League opponent.

„They’ve shown that they aren’t afraid even when facing big-name teams. We’ve been warned; we know how they’ve performed against other top teams. They play without fear—they have nothing to lose,“ Neuer explained.

For the 40-year-old, it’s clear what mindset Bayern will need on Thursday: “Everyone knows we can’t underestimate them.”

For Kompany’s team, the Champions League opener is also an opportunity to bounce back from last weekend. In the 0-0 draw at Schalke, the record champions dropped points for the first time this Bundesliga season and failed to score despite clear dominance.

They now aim to be significantly more efficient against Bodø/Glimt. In addition, the Munich side wants to continue its impressive opening streak in the Champions League: Bayern has won all 22 of its opening Champions League matches of the season.

The favorites are therefore clear. Nevertheless, the message from Kompany and Neuer ahead of kickoff is clear: Anyone who views Bodø/Glimt merely as a small Norwegian underdog could be in for an unpleasant surprise on Thursday.