Carlo Ancelotti has said Robert Lewandowski will definitely play for Bayern Munich, who are confident defenders Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng can both overcome injuries in time to face holders Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Tuesday.
Lewandowski has scored 38 goals in all competitions this season — including seven in eight Champions League games. However, Bayern’s top scorer missed the first leg in Munich and has not featured since landing heavily on his right shoulder against Borussia Dortmund on April 8. The Poland striker scored four goals for former club Dortmund against Jose Mourinho’s Madrid side in the 2013 semifinals.
Ancelotti confirmed at the prematch news conference in the Bernabeu: “Everything is fine with Lewandowski; he’s trained without any problem. He’s fit.”
Ancelotti’s side must overturn a 2-1 defeat from last Wednesday’s first leg to progress, but Bayern’s boss believes the return of their star striker gives Bayern a real boost.
“It will help us that Lewandowski can play. He is a super player, a top goalscorer and gives us more confidence,” he said.
The news was also encouraging regarding Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning defensive partnership, Boateng and Hummels, who both face late fitness tests in a bid to make the second leg.
Hummels picked up an ankle injury in training last Sunday, while Boateng missed the weekend’s Bundesliga goalless draw at Bayer Leverkusen with an adductor problem.
“Both Jerome and Mats trained individually yesterday, but they need a test with the ball. They both have good chances to play, but we will see how they are tomorrow morning.”
Both Hummels and Boateng, as well as Lewandowski, took part in Bayern’s public training session on Monday — the first 15 minutes of which were open to the media in the Bernabeu.
Captain Philipp Lahm said: “I’m not a doctor, so it’s difficult to say who can play and who can’t. We obviously want Lewandowski to play. I’ve been lucky in my career never having a bad injury in this phase of the tournament, but I can’t speak for other people.
“Naturally, every player wants to play against Real Madrid in the quarterfinals — that’s why we play football to enjoy the big games. We obviously want to have at least one genuine central defender on the pitch, but we’ll have to wait and see how Jerome and Mats are tomorrow. It all depends on the day.”
Ancelotti added: “We are disadvantaged after the defeat in Munich. We will have to play fantastically to progress and will have to play our best cards tomorrow.”
Speaking about potential scorelines in Bayern’s favour: “A 2-0 would be good, also a 3-2,” Ancelotti said.
“There are many permutations, but we must see how the game develops. Real can always score a goal, when Cristiano Ronaldo finds a yard of space then he scores. We must take care of the minute details — that is what will decide tomorrow.”
Asked about his return to the Bernabeu: “I don’t know how I feel tomorrow in the stadium, but I had two good years here with lots of lovely memories. I will never forget them.”
Bayern midfielder Xabi Alonso said he’s looking forward to a “special game” on his return to Real Madrid, who he called “possibly the best team in the world.”
Alonso was an integral figure of Ancelotti’s side that secured La Decima — a 10th European club title — by winning the Champions League in 2014, beating Bayern 5-0 on aggregate along the way in the semifinals.
Alonso left Real to join forces with Pep Guardiola at Bayern in August 2015.
Asked about his return to Madrid, Alonso said: “Of course it’s special and so exciting to come back here.
“I had five great years here with some wonderful experiences. I knew one day I would play against Real Madrid again and it’s a huge challenge for us against possibly the best team in the world.”
Alonso was undaunted by the task ahead as the German champions seek to overturn a 2-1 defeat in the Bernabeu after last Wednesday’s first leg to progress.
“We didn’t play our best game at home but we’re still well in this tie. Of course, it’s going to be difficult, needing to win and score at least two goals. I hope that we can put right what we didn’t do so well in Munich.
“I know all about Real Madrid, but I don’t have a patent solution on how to stop them. I just hope they don’t enjoy their best day tomorrow.
Both Lahm and Alonso will retire at the end of the season and could be set to make their final Champions League appearance in the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
“I have to banish those thoughts from my mind that it could be my last game,” Lahm said.
“It’s going to be a difficult game as we lost at home, but we’ve shown over the years we can win away from home against good teams. That is our goal tomorrow, to show our true quality and win, but we are definite outsiders.
However, Lahm warned Los Blancos: “Regardless of who plays tomorrow, we will have a team that is good enough to beat Real Madrid.”
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