Nagelsmann: 'Recent games against Barça need to be forgotten'

Time for another Bayern v Barça... but things look very different to recent occasions, a view that is also shared in Munich. Bayern's coach, Julian Nagelsmann, is in no doubt, “We know Barça. There are new faces, some with a very important role, like Robert Lewandowski. There is a freshness about them and they will be a difficult opponent”.

He added: “Recent games against Barça need to be forgotten. This is an active team, with counter-pressing that is very reminiscent of when Xavi was a player. They have developed very well and have good players like Pedri and Gavi”.

The coach acknowledged that he hopes that the fans will welcome Lewandowski. “That would be normal when a player returns after giving so much. He was a key member of the Bayern family. I can't wait to see him and wish him all the best”, stated Nagelsmann.

The Polish forward's former teammate in attack, Thomas Müller, added to his thoughts. “Of course it is going to take us a while to get used to playing without Lewandowski, he made history with Bayern. I get on well with him and we have been turning up the heat on each other via WhatsApp since the draw was made”, he assured.

In this respect, Müller confessed that one of Bayern's new faces, Sadio Mané, joked that he should be careful not to pass the ball to Lewandowski by mistake. “We want to stop him getting involved in and around our area. He is a top forward and always a danger”, added the German forward.

When it comes to the game itself, Nagelsmann acknowledged that some players are already well-established in their positions, including mentioning that Lucas Hernández, Kimmich and Sabitzer will all start. Coman is injured and will miss the game on Tuesday.