Bayern counting on away goals to progress

MUNICH - BAYERN Munich are in a confident mood. They are ready to make home advantage count when they host Real Madrid today.

At stake is a place in the Champions League quarter-finals. Having scored important away goals in their 2-3 first-leg loss at the Bernabeu Stadium a fortnight ago, Bayern can go through with a low-scoring win.

Injury doubts linger over defender Lucio and midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic. The pair pulled up in training on Monday.

Salihamidzic got Bayern's first goal in their 3-2 Bundesliga win at Hertha Berlin last weekend.

It was a result which defender Wally Sagnol believes puts the German club in good spirits ahead of the showdown at the Allianz Arena.

'Real Madrid's individual quality speaks for itself, but our team spirit is stronger,' he said.

The Spanish team are struggling for form, and have injury concerns following Sunday's disappointing 1-1 home draw with Getafe.

Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy are suffering from the same type of injury: a bruised right quadricep.

Ex-England captain David Beckham, Real's chief playmaker from the first leg in Spain, has been ruled out, along with Jose Antonio Reyes. They picked up knee injuries on Sunday.

'Neither of them will be fit to travel to Germany,' said Real coach Fabio Capello.

'Reyes' injury is serious. Beckham's could be just as significant.'

But Raul Gonzalez, who scored twice in the first-leg win, is back after missing Sunday's draw with a sore groin.

Capello is feeling the pressure to progress to the last eight, after he reportedly offered to resign ahead of the first-leg match.

He said: 'With spirit and quality, we can play a good game in Munich. We are thinking only about going through to the quarter-finals.'

The loss of Beckham is a major blow.

The midfielder has earned plaudits since fighting his way back into the team.

This was despite being told by Capello that he would not pull on a Real shirt again following his decision to move to LA Galaxy at the end of the season.

Bayern will have to tread carefully against the Spanish team.

Three players - Martin Demichelis, Mark van Bommel and Andreas Ottl - are on two yellow cards. A third would earn them a one-match suspension if their team progress.

To add extra spice to the tie, Dutch midfielder van Bommel will have his behaviour scrutinised.

He has been fined US$8,200 (S$12,500) by Uefa for making obscene gestures at Real fans, after scoring a late goal in the first match.

'I must apologise to the supporters. I have nothing against them, but I have something against some of the Real players,' he said.

He had an injury-marred year with Real's bitter rivals Barcelona, before joining Bayern.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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