Former Leverkusen and Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov has shared his preferred gameday meals and anticipates the excitement of Matchday 3 in the UEFA Champions League during the inaugural episode of the Just Eat Matchday Menu series.
Berbatov has singled out the upcoming clash between Barcelona and Bayern Munich as a must-watch event for Matchday 3. He commented, “They are two of the biggest clubs in the world. I always enjoy watching Barcelona, especially with Robert Lewandowski in the team.”
On the other hand, Bayern also features a formidable striker in Harry Kane, who currently leads the Champions League scoring charts with four goals. Berbatov expressed his eagerness to see which striker will shine the brightest: “It’s going to be a battle of the No9s.”
Bayern Munich has won their last six encounters in the Champions League against Barcelona. Former Bayern coach Hansi Flick, now at the helm in Barcelona, previously orchestrated one of their most dominant victories – an 8-2 defeat of Barcelona during the 2019/20 season.
Looking ahead to Matchday 3, Berbatov is particularly excited about watching Florian Wirtz, whom Flick introduced to the Germany national team in 2021. “He’s someone who can not only score but also provide assists,” the 43-year-old noted. “He’s always on the move, looking for open spaces.”
Wirtz’s Leverkusen will be up against Brest on Wednesday. “What Leverkusen accomplished last season was outstanding,” Berbatov remarked, reminiscing about his five-year tenure at the club early in his career. “They are building on that momentum this season.”
As for his preferred gameday treats, Berbatov revealed that pizza was a post-game staple during his time at Manchester United, describing those occasions as pizza parties. “There was always someone who went straight for the food,” he recalled.
However, his favorite cheat meal is a Gamberoni pasta dish, featuring king prawns, which he enjoyed in generous portions and with a spicy kick. Berbatov also reminisced about the outstanding dining options during his later years at Monaco, saying, “There was a fantastic restaurant where you could essentially order anything, and they knew who I was because I was a frequent customer.”
In a light-hearted analogy, Berbatov described the qualities that make up an ideal striker, comparing them to different fruits. “First, we have mango, which represents me. Then there’s kiwi for Robert Lewandowski, and lastly, watermelon for Didier Drogba. All three of us were excellent finishers. Lewandowski is still at the top of his game, and Drogba was incredible in the air, especially with that famous Champions League header. If you combine the strengths of all three, we could create the ultimate striker.”