Bayern Munich fans flock to city for Villa match

Christian (left) and Klaus are anticipating a tough game this evening

There was a friendly atmosphere in Birmingham as fans welcomed their counterparts from Bayern Munich ahead of Aston Villa's first Champions League home game since 1983.

Villa boss Unai Emery described it as a "special" occasion.

Speaking ahead of the game, Bayern Munich fan Christian said he hoped his side would win 2-1.

He said he wanted to see a Villa goal so he could experience the fans and stadium "explode".

Christian and fellow Bayern fan Klaus have followed the club across Europe, recently travelling to Copenhagen and Madrid.

The pair said that they liked the beer in Birmingham, but the beer in Munich "was the best".

Aston Villa fans greet their rivals in Birmingham city centre

Aston Villa fans were seen greeting their rivals in the centre of Birmingham before the match at 20:00 BST.

Villa fan Simon O'Regan said he felt a mixture of "excitement and nerves".

"I don’t really know what I’m nervous about because it's the first game of the Champions League, but as you get closer to the game, you want to win it don't you?" he told BBC Radio WM.

"I think we’re going to be really competitive in the competition as a whole and definitely tonight as well."

Josef was visiting Birmingham as part of his first away day with Bayern Munich

Josef said that tonight "would be crazy" and full of Bayern Munich supporters.

As his first trip on an away day with Bayern Munich, he was trying out all the English beers.

German football journalist and commentator Constantin Eckner told BBC Radio WM it was only the second time the teams had met.

He said Bayern Munich were having a "tremendous" season and that it came as something of a surprise under new manager Vincent Kompany, who oversaw Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League last season.

Fans were seen buying scarfs ahead of the match

The president of the Bayern Munich UK Fan Club is Paul Yates who went to Aston University.

When asked why he supported Bayern Munich, he told BBC Radio WM: "Football for me is all about identification."

He said his support for the club developed after they lost the Champions League final in 1999.

"It grew from there. It’s a strange way for it to start but that’s where it came from," he said.