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Quarter-final second leg (First leg: 2-2)
Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes home advantage will enable his side to improve “by ten to 20 per cent” when they face Milan in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
“We go up a gear when we’re at home,” said Hitzfeld. “We are capable of pushing up our performance by ten to 20 per cent.”
Bayern have never lost a Champions League game by more than a goal at home – though Hitzfeld is having to cope with a number of injuries. Willy Sagnol (knee) and Martín Demichelis (muscle strain) are ruled out, while Lucio and Owen Hargreaves are expected to play after coming through an training session on Tuesday.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, however, is a major doubt with a knee complaint, and Hitzfeld is grateful for the return from suspension of Oliver Kahn and Mark van Bommel.
“Van Bommel will add more presence in midfield but it won’t be about individuals – the better team will win,” he said.
Meanwhile, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, concurred with his German counteroart.
“What matters is how the teams perform,” stated Ancelotti. “Bayern will look to control the game so, for us, the recipe for success is to play good football and perform. We need to have faith in our quality and remain upbeat about our chances.”
Milan are without the suspended Alberto Gilardino, though in Filippo Inzaghi, Ancelotti can call upon a man who has scored more UEFA club competition goals than all but Gerd Muller, Raul González, Andriy Shevchenko and Eusebio.
“He is not yet 100 per cent fit but I’m confident he will play,” added Ancelotti. “The goals he has scored in the Champions League speak volumes and he has scored against Bayern in the past.”
Probable teams:
Bayern:
Oliver Kahn; Hasan Salihamidzic, Lucio, Daniel Van Buyten, Philipp Lahm; Owen Hargreaves, Mark van Bommel, Andreas Ottl, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Roy Makaay, Lukas Podolski.
Milan:
Dida; Massimo Oddo, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Marek Jankulovski; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini, Clarence Seedorf; Kaká; Filippo Inzaghi.
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