Champions League hopefuls Bayern Munich are set for an early test of their title credentials when they host English champions Arsenal on Wednesday without in-form winger Michael Olise. After seeing a first yellow for a foul, a clearly frustrated Olise responded to some verbal provocation from Viking captain Zlatko Tripic by throwing the ball at his head to be sent off for the first time in his career. The London-born Olise, who started in Arsenal’s junior system, is suspended after picking up two yellow cards inside a minute in Bayern’s 3-3 draw with Viking last week.
The London-born Michael Olise, who started in Arsenal’s junior system, is suspended after picking up two yellow cards inside a minute in Bayern’s 3-3 draw with Viking last week.
Olise has nine goals and five assists from 10 games in all competitions for Bayern. The England captain has nine goals and six assists in 10 games. With Bayern 2-0 down away at Viking last week, Kane almost single-handedly engineered a comeback, scoring twice and setting up another. Speaking after Bayern’s ruthless 6-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Kane said Bayern would miss Olise but called on the rest of their star-studded squad to step up. Bayern faced the Gunners in two quarter-final legs in 2023-24, progressing by just a goal, but were outclassed in a 3-1 defeat in the league phase of last year’s competition.
Saturday’s thrashing of Leipzig once again showed the perennial German champions are a cut above their domestic rivals and Kane said Bayern were relishing a chance to take on Mikel Arteta’s side. “It’s a big game and we’re playing against one of the best teams in Europe, you have to always enjoy these occasions,” Kane said.
