BERLIN
(AP) — Thomas Mueller has promised "fireworks" as Bayern Munich seeks
to overturn a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid and reach the Champions League
final, where Real Madrid or Manchester City await.
Five-time
champion Bayern could go out to Spanish opposition at the semifinal stage for
the third straight season, after defeats to Real Madrid and Barcelona in 2014
and 2015. Saul Niguez' brilliant strike in the first leg in Spain is the
difference between the sides. Another Bayern fightback in front of 70,000 fans
is expected Tuesday, with Pep Guardiola's side counting on the spirit that
helped it recover from 2-0 down against Juventus to win 4-2 after extra time
earlier in the campaign.
Guardiola
still hopes to lead Bayern to the treble and match the feat of his predecessor
Jupp Heynckes in his last season before he leaves for City. City could yet meet
its future coach in the final if it completes the job against Madrid on
Wednesday. After a scoreless first leg in Manchester, Manuel Pellegrini's side
knows a score-draw will be enough to reach the final for the first time.
Here
is a closer look at this week's Champions League matches: BAYERN
MUNICH-ATLETICO MADRID Bayern missed the chance to clinch its fourth successive
Bundesliga title on Saturday, when it was clear that thoughts were already on
Atletico's visit.
With
the league title all but certain to arrive sooner or later, Guardiola decided
to rest Xabi Alonso, Javi Martinez, Philipp Lahm, David Alaba, Arturo Vidal,
Thiago Alcantara, Douglas Costa and Robert Lewandowski in the 1-1 draw against
Borussia Moenchengladbach.
"Tuesday's
match is going to be different, we have to play better then," Guardiola
said. Since losing the 2014 semifinal to Madrid, Bayern has won all 11
Champions League games at home. However, Bayern has been made to sweat in the
Champions League this season, leaving it very late against Juventus and scraping
past Benfica 3-2 on aggregate.
"The
assurance has suffered a bit the last few weeks," Mueller said. "We
stand together well as a team but it's no longer as easy as it was." Most
fans were surprised to see Mueller starting the first leg in Madrid on the bench.
The 26-year-old scored his 20th league goal of the season Saturday, bringing
his tally across all competitions to 32, and it was his injury-time goal that
forced extra time against Juventus.
If
Bayern had trouble breaking through Atletico's defense in Madrid, it will now
have to deal with the addition of Diego Godin to the Spanish team's backline.
Godin, a key player for Atletico, and winger Yannick Carrasco were both cleared
to play on Sunday after recovering from injuries.
Coach
Diego Simeone also rested most of his first-choice players over the weekend,
starting only four players from his lineup that beat Bayern. Atletico won 1-0
against Rayo Vallecano to stay level on points with league leader Barcelona.
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