Although Bayern Munich are one of the biggest challenges in international club football, Viking would hardly regret facing them in their first-ever home match in the Champions League proper.
Having lost their first-ever UCL league phase match away to Stuttgart, Viking now face an even greater German challenge. Their home form will be put to the ultimate test, with the Norwegians going into the match on the back of 12 consecutive home wins across all competitions.
In August, they beat Dinamo Zagreb at this very stadium, thereby qualifying for the competition for the first time. If we exclude the defeat to Stuttgart, Viking are in superb form, but this is precisely what highlights the huge gap between the standard of their domestic league and the Champions League.
Bayern Munich are kicking off another dominant season, though not without a few minor slip-ups. They are still unbeaten in all competitions, but have drawn twice away from home in the Bundesliga.
It is on the back of one such result that they go into this match, having only just scraped a 2–2 draw against Augsburg at the weekend. The club’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, made a scathing comment after the match, blaming the UEFA Nations League for disrupting the team’s rhythm.
But given that a month ago Bayern thrashed Viking’s big rivals in Norway, Bodo/Glimt, 5–0 in the first round of the Champions League, there is hardly any cause for concern.
How the bookies view it: The Bavarians will be out for blood
The difference in class here is clear, and without going into detail, the bookmakers do not believe the inexperienced home side stand a chance here.
At the moment, you can back Viking to pull off an upset at 18/1, whilst a draw is priced at 12/1. Bayern Munich are at almost the shortest odds of around 1/10.
Recent head-to-head: Viking always struggle against German teams
Unsurprisingly, these two teams have never met before, but we can still say something about their individual records against teams from the other country.
Bayern Munich have seven wins in their last nine matches against Norwegian sides (D2). Viking, meanwhile, have suffered four consecutive defeats against German opposition.
Players to watch: Olise to return to the scoresheet
Harry Kane took on a different role in the match against Augsburg, providing two assists rather than scoring any goals. This match brought to an end his run of seven consecutive matches in which he had scored, but this is unlikely to last long, and he will most likely find the net again as early as Tuesday.
Michael Olise, meanwhile, had a strangely quiet match, although he did make an impact with his play, recording neither a goal nor an assist. But with 12 goals and five assists so far this season, we can always expect him to burst into form.
Probable line-ups
Viking: Ostbo, Stensness, Haugen, Heggheim, Falchener, Askildsen, Tripic, Bjordal, Christiansen, Botheim, Postema
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Upamecano, Stanisic, Tah, Davies, Pavlovic, Kimmich, Saibari, Olise, Diaz, Kane
Anything else catch the eye?
Anything is possible, but in my view the real question is whether Viking will manage to score, rather than who will win.
Given all of Bayern’s away fixtures so far, it’s entirely reasonable to expect the home side to have some chance. Bayern have conceded at least once in each of their four away matches since the start of the season.
Especially if they take an early lead, they may ease off in the second half and allow Viking to find the net.
GambleAware