Munich (Germany) (AFP) - Pep Guardiola has promised
embattled Bayern Munich will put up a fight in Tuesday's Champions League
semi-final, second-leg, in their near-impossible bid to deny Barcelona an
eighth final appearance. Bayern are chasing
a miracle at the Allianz Arena after their humbling
3-0 first-leg defeat at the Camp Nou last Wednesday when Lionel Messi capped a dazzling
display with two goals. No team has ever over-turned a three-goal deficit in a
European semi-final. "We all know it's going to be a mammoth task, but we're not going to give up," said
Bayern forward Thomas Mueller. Bayern believe they can claim a historic win with Germany
captain Bastian Schweinsteiger suggesting: "Sometimes unbelievable things happen in
football and we hope we're going
to catch one of those days". But their confidence has been dented by losing their last four games
since winning the German
league for the 25th time a fortnight ago and the losing streak is their longest since 1991. Barcelona's Pedro
Rodriguez (L) celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi (C) after scoring during t …
In Saturday's latest defeat, Bayern crashed 1-0 at home to
neighbours Augsburg and had to play 77 minutes with ten-men after reserve
goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off. Having
also lost 2-0 at Leverkusen the previous week before their drubbing in Barcelona, it is the first time Bayern have
failed to score in three consecutive games for 15 years. - 'We'll fight to the
end' - But Bayern coach Guardiola, a former Barcelona boss, insists his side
must keep their dreams alive. "I am realistic, that is the only way you
can win," said the Spaniard, who has warned his side they risk being routed unless they contain
Barcelona's star-studded attack. Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola during his side's Bundesliga
match against FC Augsburg in Muni … "The dream is still there and we
have 90 minutes. It won't be easy, but I am a fighter." In contrast, Barca
are in fine form having
scored 19 goals in their last four games. They are poised to win the Spanish
league title after beating
David Moyes's Real Sociedad 2-0 on Saturday which left them four points ahead
of rivals Real Madrid. Brazil star Neymar has now scored in each of his last
six matches to take his tally for the season to 35, while Barca have now not
conceded for seven straight games. But Barca coach Luis Enrique refuses to
believe Bayern will bow out of Europe without a fight.
"I saw it (the defeat against Augsburg). They lost, but
they played 70 minutes with 10 men. We will suffer a lot in Munich," said
the Barca boss. "They are a unique opponent, who know what it is like to
turn around important matches already this season. "We will never think
that it is done, nor even that it looks very good for us. We need to defend as
far away from our goal as possible." One ray of hope, as Bayern goalkeeper
Manuel Neuer put it, is the fact Guardiola's side emphatically turned
their 3-1 quarter-final, first-leg defeat at Porto into a 6-1 rout in Munich
with five goals in the opening
45 minutes. But in-form Barca are a different proposition after Messi dazzled
in the first leg with two goals and an assist for Neymar's 94th-minute goal. "We
have to give our all. We have showed many times how well we can perform in Munich,"
said Bayern's top-scorer Robert Lewandowski, who will again play with a
protective mask after fracturing
his nose and cheekbone nearly two weeks ago. "It's not yet over and we'll
fight to the end."
