Wednesday 19 February 2014

That was quick! Bayern stop off at Loftus Road for brief training session ahead of Champions League clash with Arsenal


Here we go: Bayern Munich arrive at Loftus Road for their final training session before taking on Arsenal

Bayern Munich put the finishing touches to their preparations for tonight's Champions League last-16 clash with Arsenal with a short training session at Loftus Road.
Last year's winners were granted use of Queens Park Rangers' facilities by their manager Harry Redknapp and were welcomed by a throng of fans.
The German side knocked the Gunners out of last year's competition at the same stage but Pep Guardiola's side didn't hang around on Wednesday - they left 40 minutes after arriving in their official team coach
.
Dutch destroyer: Arjen Robben arrives at Loftus Road as Bayern looks to reach the last eight
Here we go: Bayern Munich arrive at Loftus Road for their final training session before taking on Arsenal
Dutch destroyer: Arjen Robben arrives at Loftus Road as Bayern looks to reach the last eight

Tale of the tape

Bayern Munich
QPR
1900Founded1882
German champions (23), European champions (6)HonoursChampionship winners (2)
909,000Twitter followers159,000
71,000Average attendance17,000
£210mValue of team£32.5m
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hopes Bayern will not leave a lasting impression on him in the same way the great Barcelona did four years ago.
Wenger believes the most complete team he has faced in his long and distinguished career were a Barcelona squad where Arsenal's record goalscorer Thierry Henry was not even in the starting line-up.
'I was most impressed by the Barcelona team at the peak, through the speed of their passing and the speed of their game,' said Wenger.
'The first time we played them at the Emirates, the first half an hour was the best I've seen.
Man in the middle: Pep Guardiola is looking to win his second Champions League having done so with Barcelona
Man in the middle: Pep Guardiola is looking to win his second Champions League having done so with Barcelona
Pleased to meet you: Goalkeeper Manuel Neur and defender Dante greet the fans at Loftus Road
Pleased to meet you: Goalkeeper Manuel Neur and defender Dante greet the fans at Loftus Road
'Hopefully I will not have the same impression on Wednesday night. Until now, in my experience, in my life, that's the best team I've played against.'
Arsenal held on to draw 2-2 with the Catalans in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, before being eliminated 6-3 on aggregate following a 4-1 loss at the Nou Camp in which Lionel Messi scored all four goals.
Barca won the European Cup in 2009 and 2011, but lost in the semi-finals to Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, the eventual winners, in 2010.
Wenger admits it is impossible to argue against Bayern being the world's best on current form and knows there is a small margin for improvement.
Midfield maestros: Bastian Schweinsteiger and Jerome Boateng will be crucial to Bayern at the Emirates
German engineering: Bastian Schweinsteiger and Jerome Boateng will be crucial to Bayern at the Emirates
Captain fantastic: Philip Lahm will look to earn Bayern a first-leg lead when they take on Arsenal
Captain fantastic: Philip Lahm will look to earn Bayern a first-leg lead when they take on Arsenal
Hoping to go one better: Mario Goetze (centre) lost in the final last year with Dortmund
Hoping to go one better: Mario Goetze (centre) lost in the final last year with Dortmund
'Last year they won the German league, the German Cup, the Champions League and the (Club) World Cup,' he said.
'Maybe in the style there is always room for improvement but if they just do the same achievements this season they can say they have improved, because it's more difficult to do it again.'
Wenger is certain his side can prevail, though, with resilience in defence absolutely key.
He added: 'I can talk all day. But it's down to our performance on Wednesday night.
'They have six or seven players who can create a chance at any moment. The quality of our defending will play a big part.'
Centre of attention: Guardiola is mobbed as he leaves Loftus Road with the Bayern squad
Centre of attention: Guardiola is mobbed as he leaves Loftus Road with the Bayern squad
Game time: Bayern leave Loftus Road and head back to their hotel ahead of the clash with Arsenal
Game time: Bayern leave Loftus Road and head back to their hotel ahead of the clash with Arsenal

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