Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid: Pep Guardiola under pressure to deliver as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge fires warning
Bayern will hope to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Atletico as Guardiola aims to bow out in Munich with European success
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Your support makes all the difference.Bayern Munich are looking to their strength at home to overturn a 1-0 deficit to Atletico Madrid and reach the Champions League final for the second time in three years.
Since losing the 2014 semi-final to Real Madrid, Bayern have won all 11 Champions League games in Munich. Another victory on 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 on Saturday after more than three months out with a groin injury.
Against Juventus at home in March, Bayern were 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 the home fans is expected with Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge declaring: "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 are counting on their defensive strength to see them through for what could be a repeat of the 2014 final against city rival Real Madrid. Atletico have conceded only five goals, the least in the Champions League along with Madrid, who host Manchester City for the other semi-final on Wednesday.
Atletico welcome back key defender Diego Godin, who missed the first leg at the Vicente Calderon, 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 semi-final first-leg. Atletico won 1-0 against local rivals Rayo Vallecano to stay level on points with Spanish league leaders Barcelona on Saturday.
Some 2,800 "Atleti" fans are travelling 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 winning the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble before he leaves for Manchester City, who he may yet face in the Champions League final. Bayern play Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final on 21 May.
Franck Ribery is a doubt with a back problem, while fellow Bayern winger Arjen Robben is still out with a groin injury.
Five-time champions Bayern are at risk of going out to Spanish opposition at the semi-final stage for the third straight season, after defeats to Real Madrid and Barcelona in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Bayern's first European Cup came against Atletico in 1974, in the only final to go to a replay. They were the sides' only previous meetings before the semi-final first leg in Madrid.
Bayern captain Philipp Lahm says supporters will see a side "that 100 per cent wants to reach the final, that will give everything to turn the result around with the support of the fans."
32-year-old Lahm has made more Champions League appearances than any other German player, his 104th game in Madrid surpassing Oliver Kahn's tally of 103.
AP
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