Bayern Munich’s Neuer relishes Champions League ‘classics’ and warns against Bodø/Glimt threat

Manuel Neuer says Bayern Munich are targeting another top-eight finish in the Champions League league phase after being drawn against a varied group of opponents, including Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United.

The draw took place in Monaco on Thursday, with Bayern also paired with Bodø/Glimt, Lille, Slavia Prague, Real Betis and Viking.

Neuer, Bayern’s experienced goalkeeper, said the club’s main objective was to secure a place among the eight highest-ranked teams at the end of the league phase.

“The opponents are very balanced and interesting teams, and they have a lot of tradition,” Neuer told reporters after the draw. “In general, we want to finish the league phase among the top eight again, and that is our main goal.”

Bayern will face Arsenal in a meeting Neuer believes has developed into a major fixture in recent seasons. The German side will also play Atletico Madrid at the stadium scheduled to host this season’s final, Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

“The match against Arsenal has already become something like a classic in recent years,” Neuer said. “And we will meet Atletico Madrid at the stadium that will host the final, Riyadh Air Metropolitano. We all hope that we can play there twice this season.”

A possible return to the Madrid stadium for the final would give Bayern the chance to complete their Champions League campaign at the same venue where they will face Atletico in the league phase.

The draw has also revived one of European football’s most familiar rivalries, with Bayern due to travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

“Bayern against Manchester United is, of course, an absolute classic, and it has a great history in the Champions League,” Neuer added. “Playing there away from home, at Old Trafford, is special.”

Despite the attention surrounding the traditional fixtures, Neuer said Bayern would not underestimate the less familiar opponents in their schedule. Among them are Bodø/Glimt, who he described as the surprise package of last season.

“We will not underestimate the match against Bodø/Glimt either, who were a real surprise last season, as well as Lille, Slavia Prague, Real Betis and Viking,” he said. “We are looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Bayern were eliminated from last season’s Champions League in the semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain, who went on to win the competition. Neuer’s comments underline the importance the German club places on making progress through the new league-phase format and finishing inside the automatic qualification places for the knockout stage.

The Bavarian club’s route includes a mixture of established European heavyweights, historic venues and opponents who offer a very different challenge. The matches against Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United carry the strongest traditional appeal, while the fixtures against Bodø/Glimt, Lille, Slavia Prague, Real Betis and Viking will test Bayern’s ability to approach every game with the same level of focus.