Bayern Vow to "Give Everything" in Lisbon Quest

Extraordinary matches call for extraordinary measures, according to Pep Guardiola. The Bayern head coach has made a small but significant change to the club’s traditional routine this season: Philipp Lahm and Co are generally allowed to spend the night before matches at the Allianz Arena at home with their families. But prior to the all-or-nothing Champions League semi-final return against Real Madrid on Tuesday (Live in English from 8.45 pm CET on Twitter and FCB.tv Web Radio) Guardiola has reverted to the standard practice at FCB for many long years: following the final pre-match training session on Monday lunchtime, the squad will repair to a hotel and focus on the upcoming challenge as a collective.

The coach wants nothing left to chance, because despite last week’s 1–0 defeat in the Spanish capital, Bayern remain hugely optimistic. “I just have a really good gut feeling,” Arjen Robben told the 120 reporters from all over the world at Monday morning’s press conference. “It’s really simple: we have to attack, play our football and score goals.“ Naturally, the Reds must bear in mind Real’s strength on the break, “but we mustn’t be afraid of it,” the Dutch ace urged.

So how do Bayern intend to prise apart Madrid’s packed defence on this occasion? Pep Guardiola played his cards close to his chest on Monday, but gave at least a hint as to his thinking. “We want to be just as dominant as we were in Madrid!“ The key factors were to be “more effective and more aggressive” and to find the “right balance” between attack and defence.

The coach declined to reveal whether he would alter his team compared to the first leg, potentially bringing back Bayern’s top Champions League scorer Thomas Müller, for example. “I need to sleep on it,” explained the 43-year-old. Thiago, Xherdan Shaqiri, Tom Starke and Holger Badstuber are the only men definitely out of contention for FCB.

Peak performance required

Regardless of the eventual line-up, every player will need to be on peak form according to Guardiola: “If we’re to make the final we’ll need the best possible performance.” A victory by two clear goals would see the Bavarians through to their third Champions League final in a row. A 1–0 home win would send the tie into extra time, but if Real should score, Bayern will need at least three goals to realise the dream of a trip to Lisbon.

“We know we can’t afford mistakes,” confirmed Robben. Real will be confident when they arrive in Munich, “but they’re well aware it’s not over yet.” Team-mate David Alaba, who sat alongside Robben for the press conference at the Arena, feels the Bundesliga champions should trust in their own ability: “We need to play to our strengths, prepare well and give everything.” Jérôme Boateng also feels Bayern should get on the front foot. “As always we’ll try and get forward, but we need to defend better against Real’s fast breaks.“

All eyes in the footballing world will be on Munich this Tuesday to see whether Guardiola’s men can pull it off. An extraordinary 880 media representatives applied for accreditation at the Allianz Arena. Appropriately enough Guardiola answered questions in German, English, Spanish and Italian. Bayern versus Real is as good as it gets in global football at the present time, “and we should enjoy it,” Guardiola concluded.

Plenty of Positives from Real Warm Up

The mood at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon crackled with enthusiasm and excitement. “Stand up for Bayern,” the crowd chanted. The fans on the south and north terraces sang their hearts out, the thousands in the seats clapped their hands. There was no mistaking just how much the supporters and players are looking forward to the Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid - and Bayern’s 5–2 victory over Werder Bremen was a near-perfect way to warm up.

“It was important we came away with a positive feeling, and we’ve definitely done that,” commented captain Philipp Lahm. The champions trailed 2–1 at the break after a patchy first-half performance but a dramatically improved second-half display brought a thrilling turnaround. “We’ve scored five goals, we were always on the move and we had bags of passion. That was good! We need to focus on the positives,” remarked Arjen Robben.

The Dutchman rounded off the scoring with a trademark solo effort less than 40 seconds after coming on as a 74th-minute substitute. Franck Ribéry (20), Claudio Pizarro (53, 57) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (61) had earlier added their names to the scoresheet. Bremen’s half-time lead came courtesy of Theodor Gebre Selassie (10) and Aaron Hunt (36).

The goals against left a bitter taste in the FCB camp. “We wanted to stop their counter-attacks, but yet again we ended up with two against three at the back,” fumed Jérôme Boateng. “We have to work together better in these situations on Tuesday. We weren’t good in the first half.“ Coach Pep Guardiola could only agree, describing the first 45 minutes as “disappointing. But fortunately it was better in the second half.“

Thiago Starts Light Training

Welcome back, Thiago! The Spain international has resumed training four weeks after suffering a partial ligament rupture against 1899 Hoffenheim. Thiago completed two intensive sessions with fitness coach Thomas Wilhelmi at the Säbener Strasse facility on Saturday and Sunday. The plan is to increase intensity levels over the next few days. If all goes well the 23-year-old summer signing may be able to make an appearance in the run-in.

A trip down memory lane

Claudio Pizarro will enjoy a special reunion on Saturday. The Peru international played 159 of his 367 Bundesliga games to date for Werder Bremen, scoring 89 times along the way. In turn, Bremen players Nils Petersen (nine Bundesliga appearances for FCB, two goals) and Mehmet Ekici (70 games for FCB Reserves) both have a Bayern past. And Toni Kroos could end up in a duel with his brother, Werder midfielder Felix.

Rummenigge: Don't be Down-Hearted

At around midnight in Madrid Karl-Heinz Rummenigge officially opened the banquet Bayern traditionally stage after Champions League away matches. The coaching and playing staff, guests of honour and sponsors listened intently to the FCB chairman, who was in bullish mood despite the defeat to Real earlier in the evening. We reproduce Rummenigge’s speech in full:

“Ladies and gentlemen,

This evening we were witnesses to an unbelievably interesting, emotional and very intense Champions League match. Obviously, losing 1–0 isn’t the result we wanted, but I’m far from thinking it can’t be put right. I think Munich will be burning with passion when it comes to the return match next Tuesday. We’ll have 70,000 people getting behind the team.

[applause] 

We’ll all have to support and push the team so that Real Madrid realise: it’ll be hard in Munich! As I’ve said, it wasn’t the result we were looking for. But I believe we can still do it and make it to Lisbon. We must all get behind the team! 

Lads, I have one thing to tell you: I got up out of my seat in the VIP box after the match and my impression was that the Real Madrid bosses weren’t happy. They know what they can expect in Munich on Tuesday. Their trip to Dortmund was still a comfortable prospect by comparison. We’ll show them that Bayern Munich have real quality at home, and it’ll remind them a bit of hell. We and the fans will push you along.

Lads, don’t be down-hearted! A defeat is never good, and we shouldn’t play it down. But a defeat is always as valuable as the way you react - and you’ll show the right reaction next Tuesday! I wish you all a very good evening.”

Proud, Bayern Leave Madrid in Fighting Mood

Three cheers for Thomas Müller, Arjen Robben and Pep Guardiola. The reception at the post-match banquet in Madrid provided a boost for Bayern on the Iberian peninsula. Friends, family, VIP guests and sponsors greeted each and every player, plus the head coach, with a round of applause. That was in spite of a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League semi-final first leg - a result that has roused Bayern’s determination to get the right result in next Tuesday’s return match at the Allianz Arena.

“Obviously, the 1-0 defeat isn’t the result we wanted but I’m a very long way from saying we’re not in a position to put it right,” declared Karl-Heinz Rummenigge when he rose to speak at a minute after midnight. His speech at the banquet was directed straight at the players: “Don’t be down-hearted lads! Defeats are never good, and we shouldn’t play it down. But a defeat is always as valuable as the way you react - and you’ll show the right reaction next Tuesday.”

All to Play for After Narrow Defeat

The Champions League semi-final between Bayern and Real Madrid remains poised on a knife-edge after the Spaniards edged home by the only goal of the game in Wednesday’s first leg. Holders Munich were frustrated for long spells as the Spanish giants opted to shut up shop but the home side’s deadly effectiveness on the break ultimately earned them a precious lead.

The 80,354 capacity crowd at the magnificent Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in the Spanish capital saw Munich dominate the first-half possession but fail to create clear-cut chances, as Real defended in depth and launched sporadic but dangerous forays, Karim Benzema finishing off a trademark counter-attack to hand the home side a 19th-minute lead. Carlo Ancelotti’s team showed much more adventure as the game opened up in the second period, but FCB launched a late onslaught and sub Mario Götze came within an ace of levelling. It was not to be and Pep Guardiola’s men now have a deficit to overturn in next week’s second leg.

The Bavarians are back in action on Saturday afternoon at home to Werder Bremen, before the decisive return against the Spanish giants at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.