BERLIN: Bayern Munich is looking to its strength at home to overturn a 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid and reach the Champions League final for the second time in three years.
Since losing the 2014 semifinal to Real Madrid, Bayern has won all 11 Champions League games in Munich. Another victory Tuesday would match Manchester United’s record from 2006-09.
“We’re very very strong at home. That’s what we’re counting on,” said Germany defender Jerome Boateng, who made his return Saturday after more than three months out with a groin injury.
Against Juventus at home in March, Bayern was 2-0 down and heading for a round of 16 exit before the side came back to win 4-2 in extra time.
Another comeback in front of home fans is expected Tuesday with Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge telling Atletico: “We’ll throw everything into it with 70,000 supporters and deliver a huge fight, that I can promise you. I hope that this fight will lead us to (the final in) Milan.”
Saul Niguez’ brilliant early strike in the first leg in Spain is the difference between the sides and Atletico is counting on its defensive strength to see it through for what could be a repeat of the 2014 final against city rival Real Madrid.
Atletico has conceded only five goals, the least in the Champions League along with Madrid, which hosts Manchester City for the other semifinal on Wednesday.
Atletico welcomes back key player Diego Godin, who missed the first leg at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, to its backline, while Yannick Carrasco was also cleared to play on Sunday after recovering from an ankle injury.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone rested most of his first-choice players over the weekend, starting only goalkeeper Jan Oblak, defenders Jose Gimenez and Juanfran Torres, and midfielder Gabi Fernandez from the side that beat Bayern in the semifinal first leg. Atletico won 1-0 against local rival Rayo Vallecano to stay level on points with Spanish league leader Barcelona on Saturday.
Some 2,800 “Atleti” fans are traveling to Munich to lend their support to Simeone’s side.
Bayern counterpart Pep Guardiola also rested players in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home with Borussia Moenchengladbach. Xabi Alonso and Javi Martinez were left out of the squad altogether, while Philipp Lahm, David Alaba, Arturo Vidal, Thiago Alcantara, Douglas Costa and Robert Lewandowski all started on the bench.
The draw put Bayern’s league title celebrations on hold. Guardiola is under pressure to match predecessor Jupp Heynckes’ 2013 feat of the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble before he leaves for Manchester City, which he may yet face in the Champions League final. Bayern plays Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final on May 21.
Ronaldo steps up training ahead of City return
Cristiano Ronaldo’s chances of facing Manchester City in the second leg of Real Madrid’s Champions League semifinal on Wednesday were boosted as the Portuguese took a full part in training on Monday.
Ronaldo has missed Real’s last three games due to a thigh injury, but is expected to return against City with the tie finely balanced at 0-0.
French striker Karim Benzema also stepped up his recovery from a hamstring strain picked up in the first leg in the hope of being fit to face the English side.
“Ronaldo and (Alvaro) Arbeloa completed the session with the group while Benzema was out running alone on the pitch,” Madrid said in a statement on Monday.
Ronaldo has been in blistering form in the Champions League this season, scoring 16 goals in 10 appearances, including a hat-trick in the second leg of their quarterfinal with Wolfsburg to overcome a 2-0 first-leg deficit.
However, he expects another tight match against City if Madrid are to make it to their 14th European Cup final.
“If Manchester City have made it to the semifinals, it’s because they’re an excellent team,” Ronaldo told Madrid’s website.
“Knocking out PSG is not an easy task, but they managed to do it. They are a team with very few weaknesses.”
Since losing the 2014 semifinal to Real Madrid, Bayern has won all 11 Champions League games in Munich. Another victory Tuesday would match Manchester United’s record from 2006-09.
“We’re very very strong at home. That’s what we’re counting on,” said Germany defender Jerome Boateng, who made his return Saturday after more than three months out with a groin injury.
Against Juventus at home in March, Bayern was 2-0 down and heading for a round of 16 exit before the side came back to win 4-2 in extra time.
Another comeback in front of home fans is expected Tuesday with Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge telling Atletico: “We’ll throw everything into it with 70,000 supporters and deliver a huge fight, that I can promise you. I hope that this fight will lead us to (the final in) Milan.”
Saul Niguez’ brilliant early strike in the first leg in Spain is the difference between the sides and Atletico is counting on its defensive strength to see it through for what could be a repeat of the 2014 final against city rival Real Madrid.
Atletico has conceded only five goals, the least in the Champions League along with Madrid, which hosts Manchester City for the other semifinal on Wednesday.
Atletico welcomes back key player Diego Godin, who missed the first leg at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, to its backline, while Yannick Carrasco was also cleared to play on Sunday after recovering from an ankle injury.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone rested most of his first-choice players over the weekend, starting only goalkeeper Jan Oblak, defenders Jose Gimenez and Juanfran Torres, and midfielder Gabi Fernandez from the side that beat Bayern in the semifinal first leg. Atletico won 1-0 against local rival Rayo Vallecano to stay level on points with Spanish league leader Barcelona on Saturday.
Some 2,800 “Atleti” fans are traveling to Munich to lend their support to Simeone’s side.
Bayern counterpart Pep Guardiola also rested players in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home with Borussia Moenchengladbach. Xabi Alonso and Javi Martinez were left out of the squad altogether, while Philipp Lahm, David Alaba, Arturo Vidal, Thiago Alcantara, Douglas Costa and Robert Lewandowski all started on the bench.
The draw put Bayern’s league title celebrations on hold. Guardiola is under pressure to match predecessor Jupp Heynckes’ 2013 feat of the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble before he leaves for Manchester City, which he may yet face in the Champions League final. Bayern plays Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final on May 21.
Ronaldo steps up training ahead of City return
Cristiano Ronaldo’s chances of facing Manchester City in the second leg of Real Madrid’s Champions League semifinal on Wednesday were boosted as the Portuguese took a full part in training on Monday.
Ronaldo has missed Real’s last three games due to a thigh injury, but is expected to return against City with the tie finely balanced at 0-0.
French striker Karim Benzema also stepped up his recovery from a hamstring strain picked up in the first leg in the hope of being fit to face the English side.
“Ronaldo and (Alvaro) Arbeloa completed the session with the group while Benzema was out running alone on the pitch,” Madrid said in a statement on Monday.
Ronaldo has been in blistering form in the Champions League this season, scoring 16 goals in 10 appearances, including a hat-trick in the second leg of their quarterfinal with Wolfsburg to overcome a 2-0 first-leg deficit.
However, he expects another tight match against City if Madrid are to make it to their 14th European Cup final.
“If Manchester City have made it to the semifinals, it’s because they’re an excellent team,” Ronaldo told Madrid’s website.
“Knocking out PSG is not an easy task, but they managed to do it. They are a team with very few weaknesses.”
