THE FIRST MEETING: WHY HAVE BAYERN MUNICH AND ATALANTA NEVER PLAYED EACH OTHER BEFORE?
Bayern Munich have drawn Atalanta in the Champions League last 16. Discover the dates, bracket details, and latest injury updates.
The draw’s done, and Bayern Munich will go up against Atalanta in the Champions League round of 16. The first leg’s in Bergamo, the second's back home at the Allianz Arena in Munich. If Bayern gets past Atalanta, things only get tougher; they’ll have to face either Real Madrid or Manchester City next. Meanwhile, the other side of the bracket looks a bit kinder. If Arsenal beats Bayer Leverkusen, they just have to deal with either Bodo Glimt or Sporting Lisbon.
But that’s the reality now, and Vincent Kompany’s got no choice but to keep his squad locked in, even with the growing injury list. Hiroki Ito’s the latest casualty; he picked up a muscle problem during training on Thursday at Säbener Straße.
Manuel Neuer, Bayern’s captain, has been out too since he left at halftime during the 3-0 win over Werder Bremen earlier this month. He was supposed to be back for the big Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund, but his recovery hit a snag. So, Jonas Urbig steps up again in goal.
There’s a real chance Neuer returns in time for the Atalanta matches, maybe even for both legs. Talking about Atalanta, Neuer made it clear: you can’t take them lightly. They just knocked out Dortmund after being down 2-0 from the first leg. He said, “We’ve had time to watch the games now, including Atalanta against Dortmund. Dortmund’s our next league opponent, and now Atalanta’s our Champions League rival. We saw how good Atalanta are at home; they can move mountains on their day. Honestly, it’s probably good we play in Bergamo first; after that, we’ll know exactly what we’re up against. Facing an Italian team in the Champions League just feels bigger than playing a German one like Leverkusen.”
This is actually the first time Bayern and Atalanta will meet. Still, Bayern knows what Italian sides can do. Atalanta recently beat Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, and Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe. So, nobody’s underestimating them.
LUIS DIAZ DECLARES BAYERN MOVE "RIGHT DECISION" AFTER SLAYING REAL MADRID
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher react as Luis Diaz haunts Madrid. Is the €75m star the world's best winger?
Luis Diaz says he has no regrets about leaving Liverpool and feels he made the right call by signing with Bayern Munich last summer.
He landed in Bavaria for €75 million (about $87 million/£66 million), and honestly, he hit the ground running, scoring 23 goals and 18 assists already. He’s even chasing some European silverware after scoring the opener in Bayern’s Champions League quarterfinal first-leg win over Real Madrid on Tuesday.
The Bundesliga title looks just about wrapped up, too; Bayern’s nine points clear at the top, so Diaz will probably add a winners’ medal to his collection.
Everyone’s talking about Vincent Kompany’s team as one of Europe’s best, and with Liverpool struggling this season, it’s easy to see why Diaz feels moving to Germany was the right move.
“Coming to Bayern was absolutely the right decision for me. I’m really happy, and I enjoy every game,” Diaz told ESPN after Bayern’s 2-1 win at the Bernabeu. “I feel strong, and that’s helped me stay available to help the team.”
Diaz’s red-hot form even got Steven Gerrard talking about wanting him back at Anfield, and Jamie Carragher agrees Liverpool misses him.
He might actually play at Anfield again later this month, if both Bayern and Liverpool get through their Champions League quarterfinals. If Real and PSG go out, Bayern and Liverpool face off in the semis.
When asked about Bayern’s showing in Madrid, Diaz said, “We’re happy, but we feel like we could’ve scored another goal or two. We played a great match against a really tough opponent.
“We won the ball, moved it quickly, and executed our game plan. We’d already studied Real Madrid, and everything worked the way we expected.
“We felt comfortable, recovered the ball more, and controlled the match better. That’s exactly how we like to play.”
Diaz and Harry Kane both scored for Bayern, while Kylian Mbappe grabbed a late goal for Real to keep things interesting heading into the second leg.
Back at Liverpool, Diaz scored 41 goals in 148 games and picked up a Premier League title, the FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups. He made 36 appearances in the Reds’ 2024/25 title-winning season, and a lot of people feel Liverpool’s struggles this year are down to losing him.
WHY BAYERN MUNICH AND RAPHAEL GUERREIRO ARE PARTING WAYS THIS SUMMER
Bayern Munich and Raphael Guerreiro agree to part ways this June, ending a versatile three-year stint at Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich announced on Monday that it and Raphael Guerreiro have agreed not to extend his contract. The 32-year-old will leave the Allianz Arena this coming June, ending a three-year stint that began with a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023.
The decision to part ways seems to be mutual, with both club and player aiming to finish the current season strong. During his time in Munich, the Portuguese international has been a dependable figure, contributing to Bayern’s Bundesliga title and the DFL-Supercup win. Now, attention turns to securing more silverware before Guerreiro’s departure.
Max Eberl, Bayern’s sporting director, praised Guerreiro’s role beyond the field, highlighting the defender’s professionalism and influence in the locker room, especially during times of change for the club. Eberl remarked, “We want to thank Rapha for the time we shared: he could always be counted on on the pitch, and people with his character enrich any dressing room. The conversations with him were good, based on trust and understanding. Now we are focusing together on our goals until the summer; together we want to achieve much more.”
Throughout his time at Bayern, Guerreiro has been valued for his versatility. Described as a ‘Swiss Army knife’ by the coaching staff, he has made 89 appearances, scored 12 goals, and provided eight assists. His flexibility has allowed him to perform as a traditional left-back, wing-back, and even in midfield. This season alone, he has featured in 23 matches across all competitions, starting nine times and scoring four goals.
On the international stage, Guerreiro remains an experienced and decorated professional. With 65 caps and four goals for Portugal, he played a significant part in their Euro 2016 victory and the first UEFA Nations League triumph in 2019. He also represented Portugal in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, underscoring his enduring presence at the highest level of the game.
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