Bayern aiming for ultimate glory with home Champions League final in sight

Bayern Munich's captain, Manuel Neuer, emphasized on Monday that his team is fully focused on their Champions League campaign, with the final set to take place at their home ground, the Allianz Arena in Munich.

"Something big is coming," Neuer said during a press conference ahead of Bayern’s opening group-stage match against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.

"The most important thing is the final in Munich. We want to go there and everything else is secondary.

"We know what this final means to the city, the fans and the players. Our motivation is simply very high."

The six-time European champions enter the season after enduring their first trophyless campaign in 11 years, with Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen clinching both the league and cup titles.

Thiago Motta welcomes the pressure of the 'new' Champions League

In last season’s Champions League, Bayern were knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual winners Real Madrid, who went on to defeat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley to claim the trophy.

Neuer and long-time teammate Thomas Müller, both veterans of Bayern’s 2013 and 2020 Champions League triumphs, are the only current squad members who experienced the heartbreaking 2012 final at home, when Bayern lost on penalties to Chelsea.

On Monday, Müller took to social media, sharing his excitement with fans: "the road to Munich starts tomorrow. "I'm very excited. Let's enjoy the best football in Europe."

Meanwhile, Bayern’s head coach, Vincent Kompany, who will be managing his first Champions League match, encouraged fans to keep dreaming but stressed the importance of performance.

"The most important thing for me is that we show it on the pitch. We have a difficult game tomorrow. The important thing is that we play well and win tomorrow."

Bayern has a strong history in the tournament, having won every opening Champions League match since 2002. That year, they lost 3-2 to Deportivo La Coruna, which ultimately led to their only group-stage elimination in history.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1

Tuesday

19:45: (1.85) Juventus (3.50) PSV (4.40)

19:45: (5.20) Young Boys (4.10) Aston Villa (1.70)

22:00: (3.80) AC Milan (3.60) Liverpool (2.05)

22:00: (1.15) Bayern (8.00) Dinamo Zagreb (16.0)

22:00: (1.33) Real Madrid (5.90) Stuttgart (9.50)

22:00: (1.75) Sporting (3.60) Lille (4.90)

Wednesday

19:45: (1.95) Bologna (3.60) Shakhtar (4.30)

19:45: (2.45) Sparta Praha (3.40) Salzburg (2.85)

22:00: (1.37) Celtic (5.20) Slovan B. (10.0)

22:00: (3.80) Club Brugge (3.50) Dortmund (2.10)

22:00: (1.55) Man.City (4.10) Inter (6.00)

22:00: (1.42) PSG (4.60) Girona (7.50)

Thursday

19:45: (4.20) Crvena Zvezda (3.60) Benfica (1.95)

19:45: (4.40) Feyenoord (3.70) Leverkusen (1.80)

22:00: (4.10) Atalanta (3.50) Arsenal (1.90)

22:00: (1.80) Atl.Madrid (3.60) RB Leipzig (4.60)

22:00: (1.90) Brest (3.60) Sturm (4.50)

22:00: (4.60) Monaco (3.60) Barcelona (1.80)

***odds are subject to change***