Bayern Munich is preparing for its second game of the Champions League group stage against Viking Stavanger, the Norwegian club that will make its debut in the competition. The match, which will be held in the Viking's artificial turf stadium, has become an additional challenge for the Munich team, who already face a series of doubts in the Bundesliga after the absence of their starting goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, and the injury to Jamal Musiala.
Bayern opened the group stage with a resounding 5-0 win over Bodö/Glimt, but their second round in the competition has been marked by the lack of their goalkeeper. Neuer, 40, did not train the day before or today due to discomfort in his foot, and the club has decided that Jonas Urbig will replace him. Neuer's absence was felt in the Bundesliga when the team lost 3-1 against Stuttgart, and the next match against Viking will be an opportunity to show that the absence of their goalkeeper does not affect their dominance in the group stage.
Bayern also faces the absence of Jamal Musiala, who is recovering from a muscle injury after training with the German team. For his part, Konrad Laimer, who was absent in the match against Augsburg due to the birth of his son, is expected to return to the right back. Despite these losses, Bayern has a solid squad that includes Kimmich, Pavlovic, Olise, Saibari, Luis Díaz and striker Harry Kane, who has already scored a goal in his ninth consecutive game in the Champions League.
Viking, for its part, comes to the match with the experience of having lost its first game of the group stage against Stuttgart. The Norwegian club, which is competing for the position of the last place in the Eliteserien, seeks to take advantage of the artificial playing field of the Viking Stadium to try to overcome a Bayern that, although it is one of the strongest candidates for the title, must adapt to the unusual conditions of the stadium. Viking will have their coach Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and a group of players that includes Östbö, Heggheim, Falchener, Stensness and Kristoffer Haugen, among others.
With Bayern leading the Bundesliga table two points ahead of Freiburg, the result of the match will have implications in both European competition and the German league. Viking, for its part, will continue fighting for a place in the Eliteserien, while Bayern seeks to consolidate its position in the group stage and advance to the next phase of the Champions League. The match promises to be an interesting duel, with Bayern trying to overcome internal doubts and Viking looking to take advantage of the artificial pitch to surprise their opponents.