FC Bayern are in Lisbon to face Benfica with lots of confidence, but also the appropriate “respect” (Karl-Heinz Rummenigge) and “humility” (Matthias Sammer). After the narrow 1-0 victory in the Champions League quarter-final first leg the German record champions aim to advance to the semi-finals at the Estádio da Luz on Wednesday evening.
“We’re heading to Lisbon to win,” skipper Philipp Lahm declared ahead of departing for the Portuguese capital. However, Rummenigge issued a warning before the clash with Benfica, who could go through to the CL semi-finals for the first time: “I've said from the start that all teams which made the quarter-finals have high quality,” stressed the FC Bayern chairman.
Benatia not yet match fit
Apart from long-term absentees Jérôme Boateng, Arjen Robben and Holger Badstuber, Pep Guardiola has the whole squad at his disposal for “the 90 minutes – at a minimum” (Rummenigge), although the Catalan has decided not to risk Mehdi Benatia, who only resumed the squad programme on Monday after recovering from muscular problems sustained during the last international break.
Following the three-hour flight from Munich to the Atlantic seaboard the Bayern party transferred directly to the team hotel before Guardiola, Thomas Müller and Thiago address the pre-match press conference at the Estádio da Luz.
Das Aufgebot für das Spiel in Lissabon
Bayern squad to face Benfica:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Sven Ulreich, Tom Starke
Defence: Serdar Tasci, Javi Martínez, Rafinha, Juan Bernat, Philipp Lahm, David Alaba
Midfield: Thiago, Franck Ribéry, Xabi Alonso, Mario Götze, Sebastian Rode, Arturo Vidal, Joshua Kimmich
Attack: Robert Lewandowski, Douglas Costa, Thomas Müller, Kingsley Coman
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