Bayern Munich face an unusual challenge when they take on Viking FK in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, with the match set to be played on artificial turf in Stavanger. However, Joshua Kimmich is not particularly concerned about the unfamiliar playing surface.
Artificial pitches remain relatively uncommon at the highest levels of European football, meaning Bayern’s players will need to adjust to conditions that differ from what they typically experience in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
The club has already made arrangements to hold its final training session in Stavanger to help the squad prepare.
Kimmich acknowledged that artificial turf presents a different experience but believes improvements in the technology have made the surfaces increasingly suitable for high-level football.
“To be honest, I haven’t played on artificial turf for quite some time. It’s definitely different, but I think artificial pitches have improved in recent years. I’ll just wait and see what awaits us. But I expect that you can play very good football on artificial turf as well,” Kimmich explained.
The Bayern midfielder’s comments suggest that the team is approaching the situation with an open mind rather than treating the surface as a major obstacle.
Ultimately, Bayern will need to adapt quickly and focus on executing Vincent Kompany’s game plan. The pitch may be different, but the expectations remain the same: Bayern are heading to Norway looking to secure a positive Champions League result.
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