Xavi laughs off idea that playing at Bayern is like entering 'house of horrors'

Record ID: 1688834

  • Title: Xavi laughs off idea that playing at Bayern is like entering 'house of horrors'
  • Date: 12th September 2022
  • Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 12, 2022) (REUTERS) BARCELONA FORWARD, ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI, HORSING AROUND WITH RIGHT-BACK, SERGI ROBERTO VARIOUS OF SQUAD AT TEAM TRAINING SESSION LEWANDOWSKI STANDING NEAR GOAL POSTS AND THEN RUNNING LEWANDOWSKI AND TEAM MATES DOING DRILL KNOWN AS A RONDO BARCELONA DEFENDER, GERARD PIQUE, WALKING OVER AND MOVING MIDFIELDER, FRENKIE DE JONG SQUAD TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) BARCELONA COACH, XAVI, ON PLAYING IN BAYERN’S ALLIANZ STADIUM, SAYING: “I wouldn't put it like that (that it’s a ‘house of horrors’). It's Bayern Munich and I've experienced both sides of the coin, being fortunate and unfortunate. A lot of goals in favour and lots of goals against. Well, I think soccer is cyclical. There have been very good times for Barca, some not-so-good times, and vice versa. But hey, we've only won twice. I did not have this data. What I did know is that we've never won on this pitch which tells you how difficult of a challenge it will be tomorrow. But I think we are capable. I think we are in a good form at the moment. We’re coming with a lot of enthusiasm, and we will see tomorrow.” SERGI ROBERTO AT TRAINING SERGI ROBERTO KICKING BALL WITH TEAM MATES SQUAD TRAINING IN THE STADIUM DE JONG AND TEAM MATES KICKING BALL XAVI WATCHING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA MANAGER, XAVI, ON LEWANDOWSKI, SAYING: “Robert (Lewandowski) is looking good. He’s been looking really good. He is nice and calm. He exudes calmness and confidence. He is a natural leader to the team. I can only imagine it will be a special match for him, but he will be motivated. He is very motivated. He was also able to rest the other day, which was good. He will be fresh. And as far as the timing, I think it is good timing. But that usually doesn’t really mean much. Whenever you come to Bayern’s pitch, it is tremendously difficult. We will try to show our personality tomorrow and that we can compete against a team, which in my opinion, is one of the best in the world right now.” VARIOUS OF BARCELONA GOALKEEPER, MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN, TRAINING IN THE NET SQUAD TRAINING VARIOUS OF SQUAD IN CENTRE PITCH RUNNING A LARGE RONDO DRILL BARCELONA RIGHT-WINGER RAPHINHA SQUAD HUDDLING ON PITCH PIQUE IN HUDDLE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA DEFENDER, RONALD ARAUJO, ON LEWANDOWSKI, SAYING: “Everyone knows how good Lewandowski is. And obviously, if he is playing with us, bring it on. We’ve suffered a lot and now having him with us is tremendous. We know what a good player he is and what he can do for us. And he’s already showing that. And I’m just happy he’s with us and that he can help us to continue to grow as a team.” VARIOUS OF BARCELONA TEAM TRAINING SESSION
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2022 19:57
  • Keywords: Barcelona Bayern Munich Champions League Xavi
  • Location: MUNICH, GERMANY
  • City: MUNICH, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA001461412092022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez laughed off the notion that playing at Bayern Munich is like visiting the "house of horrors" ahead of Tuesday's (September 12) mouthwatering Champions League Group C clash.
    They met in last season's group stage, with the Germans twice winning 3-0, although Barca are now a very different side and spearheaded by striker Robert Lewandowski, who moved to the Nou Camp from the Bavarians in the close season.
    Barcelona have never won at Bayern, who have triumphed in the last four meetings between the clubs with an overall score of 17-4, including an 8-2 thrashing in the 2020 quarter-finals.
    While Xavi acknowledged the task in front of Barca is daunting, he said his side should have no fear going to Munich.
    "I wouldn't call it the house of horrors - it's just Bayern's ground," Xavi said.
    "I've seen both sides of the coin, beating them heavily and losing heavily against them, but we have never won at the Allianz and this speaks of how difficult a place it is to go and the task at hand, but we're optimistic.
    The Spaniard has a fully-fit squad for the game against Julien Nagelsmann's side and is expected to recall Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Ousmane Dembele and Lewandowski, who all started on the bench in Saturday's (September 10) 4-0 win at Cadiz.
    (Production: Ayhan Uyanik, Louisa Off, Kurt Michael Hall)
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