MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich is bullish again after four wins in a row, grateful to have the chance to flip what has been a disappointing season by winning the Champions League.
The Bavarian powerhouse faces old rival Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday, when Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel is hoping his injured contingent can recover in time.
“There will be a few last-minute decisions,” Tuchel said on Monday regarding the fitness of Konrad Laimer, Matthijs de Ligt, Dayot Upamecano, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané.
Laimer and de Ligt were both injured in Bayern’s win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Germany forward Serge Gnabry has recovered from a thigh injury and Tuchel expects him not only to play but to score against Madrid.
“I don’t know how I know, but it will happen,” Tuchel said.
In contrast to Tuchel, Real Madrid counterpart Carlo Ancelotti has no injury worries going into the game.
The Italian said Éder Militão could start again after he played the full game against Real Sociedad on Friday. It was the Brazilian defender’s first start since tearing his cruciate ligament eight months ago.
Ancelotti also said midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni will play, but he wasn’t sure where.
Tuchel, who is due to leave Bayern at the end of the season by mutual accord, did not address club powerbroker Uli Hoeneß’ criticism of his record on player-development.
Hoeneß told Kicker magazine on Monday that he stood by the comments. Tuchel on Saturday called them “absolutely baseless.”
Bayern’s only chance of a trophy this season remains in the Champions League after Bayer Leverkusen ended the club’s 11-year reign as Bundesliga champion, and third-division Saarbrücken terminated German Cup hopes in the second round.
“The task against Real is to get enough people in attack to hurt them, but at the same time not to be caught out,” Tuchel said. “Those are very narrow margins. We have to find a good balance.”
Ancelotti later echoed his counterpart.
“We have to defend well, avoid counterattacks, and attack well,” Ancelotti said. “We’re confident. We have respect for this team. It’s true they haven’t played a fantastic season in the Bundesliga, but they were spectacular in two matches against Arsenal, a very strong team in Europe. We have to take this into account.”
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