Bayern president on Lewandowski's return and Barça setting standards

Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer recieved SPORT at the Allianz Arena to chat about Tuesday's Champions League game against Barcelona.

Everyone wants to know how the home fans will react to the return of Robert Lewandowski, who left the German club for Barcelona in the summer.

Hainer thinks the response will be pleasant due to the Polan striker's success in Munich, while he also had praise for Barça's project.

"We have great respect for Barça," he said. "Personally I think that Spanish football is the model to follow: the national team wins, Real Madrid win, Barça win. We have also benefitted from it, having Pep Guardiola as coach.

"Barça have had some wonderful players: Xavi, Iniesta, Pique, Busquets, Messi... and the club is so big that they will keep setting standards in the future."

Mucho en común

Hainer, who is aware Barça "are flying" after a good start to the season, feels there are many similarities between the two clubs.

"Barça are a great club that belongs to the members, we are a great club that is majority owned by the members," he said. "We also compete in basketball... we like the way Barça play football, they way they won under Guardiola... we have a lot in common."

On Lewandowski, he added: "I hope, and it is my great wish, that fans are nice to Robert and that he has a warm welcome because he played eight years with us, scored a lot of goals and decided a lot of games."