Bayern Munich start their European campaign on Thursday when they host Bodø/Glimt, with the German side expected to take control of the tie but facing opponents who gained valuable experience from a successful first Champions League campaign last season.
The statistics strongly favour Bayern at home. They are unbeaten in their past 38 Champions League group-stage or league-phase matches at home, winning 36 and drawing two. Their record against Norwegian clubs is similarly dominant: four victories from four matches, with 17 goals scored and only three conceded.
Bodø/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen knows his side are likely to spend long periods under pressure. He regards Vincent Kompany's Bayern as one of the best teams in the world at present, and believes his players will need to keep possession effectively while making the most of the limited openings Bayern allow.
The Norwegian club can, however, draw confidence from its European record. Bodø/Glimt reached the last 16 of the Champions League last season and secured a notable 2-2 draw at Dortmund. They also arrive in Munich after a 2-1 league victory at Fredrikstad.
Bayern, meanwhile, must rediscover their attacking sharpness after being held to a goalless draw by Schalke in the Bundesliga. They have a wealth of forward options, including Harry Kane, and possess the quality to decide the match. Bodø/Glimt's challenge will be to keep the contest close and maintain any uncertainty for as long as possible.
This will be the first meeting between the clubs, creating a contrast between Bayern's established European pedigree and Bodø/Glimt's growing reputation. The visitors are no longer simply newcomers to the competition, but they face a Bayern side with an exceptional home record and considerable attacking strength.
Bodø/Glimt's route to a result is likely to depend on their ability to be composed in possession and disciplined without the ball. Bayern's previous record against Norwegian opposition suggests the hosts will expect to impose themselves, although their recent failure to score against Schalke offers the visitors a reason to believe they can delay the breakthrough.
For Bayern, the priority will be to turn territorial and statistical superiority into goals. For Knutsen's team, extending the match's uncertainty could provide the platform for another significant European result.