"A small team that deserves respect" – Bayern boss on Atalanta ahead of Champions League clash
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Bayern Munich will go into their Champions League round of 16 tie with Atalanta as heavy favourites, with the first leg scheduled in Bergamo on Tuesday night.
However, FC Bayern supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is not taking anything for granted against the side that eliminated Borussia Dortmund from the Champions League last month and comfortably beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final two years ago.
“They are a small team that deserves respect,” Rummenigge told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“In past years, they clearly won that final against Leverkusen – it was fully deserved. And then what we saw against Dortmund: they could have lost by more in the first leg, but no one in Germany expected Dortmund to be eliminated in the return leg.
“From the round of 16 onwards in the Champions League, progressing requires humility, respect, concentration, and never underestimating your opponent. Bayern want to advance; we are having a very good season and are competing for all targets," said the former Inter striker.
