Olympiakos Piraeus vs Bayern Munich preview - Pep Guardiola hopes Bayern Munich can go further in Champions League this season

Posted Tuesday, September 15, 2015 by PA

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola was making no secret about his ambitions while keeping an air of humility in preparation for his side's first Champions League outing of the season at Olympiacos.

The 2013 Champions League winners have been at least semi-finalists in each of the last four seasons, but their coach wants more than that this time around.

A sixth European Cup is the ultimate goal, and the Catalan had no qualms about announcing it prior to his side's first challenge in Greece.

"We're going to try to win the Champions League again," he said at the pre-match press conference, adding a warning.

"All the sides are very strong so to win this game would be a good first step.

"The atmosphere's going to be very hostile and Olympiacos have a great deal of quality."

Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski knows all about the atmosphere Bayern can expect in Athens, played there with Borussia Dortmund in the 2011/12 season.

His goal that night was not enough to prevent a 3-1 defeat and he says one of the keys to succeeding this time around will be not to let the home fans intimidate them.

"They are very, very loud here, but we've got to focus on our game," said the Polish striker.

Bayern captain Philipp Lahm added: "With their fans behind them, they are going to throw everything into this game, which is what makes it so dangerous."

That is something Olympiacos coach Marco Silva will be hoping to use to his advantage.

"No team feels comfortable playing at our stadium," he said. "We're ready to give it our all tomorrow night."

Mario Gotze, who missed the weekend win over Augsburg, is part of Bayern's travelling party, but Arjen Robben, Medhi Benatia, Holger Badstuber and Franck Ribery have been left behind by the record German champions due to injuries.

Esteban Cambiasso is one player who knows how to stop Bayern, having triumphed for Inter Milan in the 2010 final against the Bavarians.

He is set to be partnered by Pajtim Kasami in the Greeks' midfield with Luka Milivojevic out injured.