The legendary Anfield is on Tuesday (21.00 clock) the scene of the Champions League giant duel between Liverpool and Bayern Munich. David Alaba and Co. are in the first knockout round first leg as outsiders, has never won a German club in the „Reds“. Liverpool is also the leader of the English Premier League after losing points, but Bayern are currently only Bundesliga table runners-up.
Liverpool’s German coach Jürgen Klopp warned nonetheless: „We have to be 100 percent focused, otherwise we have no chance.“ The previously rather moderate season of Bayern Klopp was not considered authoritative for the Champions League. „Maybe it’s a bit below expectations and we’re a little bit over it,“ said Klopp. But, „It’s not an easy job.“ His midfielder Jordan Henderson was convinced that „we can hurt them.“
For Liverpool it is also a tightrope walk between championship and European Cup. For him it is „difficult“ to decide between the two, „but for all Liverpool fans it is the Premier League. That’s clear, „said Klopp. The 51-year-old once again relies on the atmosphere in the home stadium. „Our appendix can really drive us from 100 to 140 percent.“
Kovac is not a „fullblind“?
For Bayern coach Niko Kovac it is a chance to show his potential as a coach. In a duel with the two-time finalist Klopp, the Champions League novice and former Salzburg assistant coach Kovac can prove that he can become an international top coach and not a „complete blind,“ as he said himself.
His scorer Robert Lewandowski could afford him to help him. „Our quality is also very high. We can also score goals away from home, „said the Pole, with eight goals top-man of the CL group stage. Under Klopp he once played for Borussia Dortmund. The suspended Thomas Müller is missing Bayern as well as Arjen Robben and the diseased Jerome Boateng. Franck Ribery arrived separately due to the birth of his fifth child. Questionable is the use of Kingsley Coman, whose left foot is damaged.
The overall balance between Liverpool and Bayern is balanced after five matches so far, with one win and three draws, at Anfield, there was a 3-0 victory of the „Reds“ and two 0: 0. And in the previous duel it had set for the German record champions in a test match in August 2017, a 0-3 home defeat.
Barcelona struggling against away weakness in Lyon
Also on Tuesday evening is the FC Barcelona in use. The fear of the Catalans before a recent early end in the Champions League is great. Despite the recent triumph in 2015, despite the national strength, they retired three times en suite in the quarter-finals of the premier class. Atletico Madrid, Juventus Turin and AS Roma were a stumbling block, the breakout against the Romans was particularly bitter after a 4-1 home win with the 0: 3 in the „eternal city“. The fact that arch-rivals Real Madrid won the last three editions is another unappealing aspect for the fans.
This year’s opponent is Olympique Lyon for the time being, while the current third in the French league is playing the first leg at home. Barca’s recent lackluster performances in the Spanish league do not bode well despite the championship lead. The previously battered Lionel Messi was just a shadow of himself on Saturday in a 1-0 home win against Real Valladolid. Even the recent away record in the knockout phase of the Champions League looks sad: Only one win in six games and 13 goals conceded with only three hits.
„We have to improve on Tuesday, otherwise we will suffer,“ warned defender Gerard Pique. Coach Ernesto Valverde tried to calm down: „Sometimes you can not shine in every game. I think the team is ready to show their best football. „
