Bayern reinforce home advantage
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Article summary
After 12 wins from 12 at their new home, FC Bayern München can make the Fußball Arena München even more of a fortress thanks to an increased capacity.
Article body
Perfect record
The German champions, Bundesliga leaders and UEFA Champions League challengers have won 12 out of 12 matches since moving into the stadium at the start of the campaign from their previous Olympiastadion base.
Hamburg scare
Indeed, the nearest any side has come to breaching Bayern's new fortress was the German Cup round of 16 tie, when Hamburger SV forced a goalless draw after 90 minutes only to succumb 1-0 in extra time.
Crowd advantage
Bayern fans can now further increase their team's home advantage when the Bundesliga season resumes on 27 January after the winter break. Capacity for domestic matches will be 69,000 – an increase of 3,000 with 901 seats set aside for both media and stadium and security officials. However, for the UEFA Champions League – where Bayern will play host to AC Milan in the Round of 16 on 21 February – the autumn capacity will still apply.