MUNICH, Germany (AFP)
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said he expects
Wednesday's Champions League semi-final return leg at Real Madrid
to be like a trip to 'hell'.
Bayern hold a slender 2-1 lead from Tuesday's first-leg in Munich
after Germany striker Mario Gomez scored the 90th-minute winner
after Real midfielder Mesut Ozil had earlier scored what could
prove to be a crucial away goal.
"We have great respect for Real, but no fear, even if we are
expecting hell in the Bernabeu stadium," Rummenigge told SID, an
AFP subsidiary.
"The last-minute goal has given us a small chance, but it will be
incredibly difficult.
"We have to concentrate fully and put a tight performance in
defence."
Rummenigge says Bayern must not try just to defend against Real
and should do all they can to score an early goal.
"We have to try and put pinpricks in their defence to get a
goal," he said.
"Sitting back and defending won't achieve anything against such a
strong attacking side."
Bayern fans are dreaming of contesting the Champions League final
at their own Allianz Arena in Munich on May 19 against either
Chelsea or Barcelona and the trophy has already arrived in the
Bavarian city.
"Of course it is our big dream to reach the home final," said
Rummenigge.
"We'll do everything we can to make the dream come true.
"It would be fantastic, historically no team has reached the
final in their own stadium."
No team has won the Champions League title in their own stadium,
but Inter Milan were the last team to lift the European Cup on
home soil when they beat Benfica 1-0 at their own San Siro
stadium 1965.
Bayern must be careful at the Bernabeu as seven of their squad
could be forced to miss the final should they reach it.
Defenders David Alaba, Holger Badstuber, Jerome Boateng, Philipp
Lahm, plus midfielders Luiz Gustavo, Toni Kroos and Thomas
Mueller will each be suspended for the final if any of them pick
up another yellow card in Madrid.
"My players are very intelligent," said coach Jupp Heyncles.
"They know exactly when to go for it and when to hold back.
"They can prevent a yellow card if they are very concentrated and
focused on what happens on the pitch."
