MUNICH (AFP) - Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer expect to make home advantage count in their Champions League last-16 return leg on Wednesday (March 13) to bring down Liverpool at a packed Allianz Arena.
After a goal-less first leg draw at Anfield three weeks ago, Kovac expects both sides to go in search of goals and the Bayern coach rates Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool as one of the world's best counter-attacking sides.
"I don't think it will end 0-0, but we will receive the kind of support in our stadium tomorrow the likes of which we haven't seen in a long time," said Kovac with a sellout crowd of around 70,000 expected.
"We have shown lots of spirit and creativity in the Bundesliga going forward," he added, as Bayern have won their last three league games with a goal ratio of 12-1 since the first leg.
"I'm in the mood to see us play even more effectively at home with the tailwind of our fans."
However, Kovac warned that if his defence "take their eyes off" Liverpool's fleet-footed forwards Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah, "then it's already too late".
Bayern are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the eighth year in a row and Kovac has backed his experienced team against a Liverpool side bidding for their first Premier League title in 29 years.
"Of course, we have to push forward - that's important - but Liverpool are one of the best counter-attacking teams and we'll have to draw a fine line," said Kovac.
"The closer we get to the end of the season, the stronger mentally our players will become.
"That gives us some reassurance against Liverpool, but we have to find a balance.
"We must be able to score a goal, even at the end of 90 minutes."
Kovac expects "form on the day" to decide the result and said he had not put Bayern through additional penalty shoot-out practice as "you can either do it or you can't" when the pressure is on.
Both winger Kingsley Coman and left-back David Alaba should be fit to return after injury, although Kovac is without the suspended Thomas Mueller.
Neuer, the captain of Bayern and Germany, is also expecting a gala European night at the Allianz Arena.
Having lost at home to Real Madrid in the knockout stages in each of the last two seasons, Neuer says it is high time Bayern beat a big European club at home.
"Tomorrow is a final for us, anything can happen when two top teams meet each other," said the 32-year-old goalkeeper.
"The Allianz Arena will be on fire and it is time for us to once again beat a team of this calibre at home."
Liverpool striker Salah has scored only once in his last eight games, but Neuer scoffed when asked if the Egyptian's dip in form could help Bayern's cause.
"Liverpool will attack us as a unit and it doesn't matter if Salah has scored only one goal in eight games," said Neuer.
"We have already seen what Liverpool can do, it's also important that we also have the right players to safeguard from corners and free-kicks.
"It's important to cover the space at the back, always have the numbers to defend counter-attacks but, of course, we want to take the lead."
next.co.uk - shop online for the latest fashion for women, men, children and homeware. Next day delivery and free returns available.
The Next 48hOURS - Home | Facebook
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - David Beckham called his former team LA Galaxy his "family" and thanked Los Angeles for embracing him at the unveiling of his statue before the Major League Soccer club's season-opener on Saturday. The statue, a first for an MLS player, honors the former England captain who
Beckham salutes LA Galaxy and Los Angeles as statue unveiled
May 17, 2015 - Destiny Beckons On Senator Bukola Saraki As Next Senate President The National Youths Mobilizer and APC Supporters' Group which comprises of Mallam Muhammed Mudi, Mr. Abdul, Jamiul and Mr. Lawal in a joint statement have endorsed and throw their weight behind the emergence of Senator Saraki bids for Senate President seat.
Gotham Hearts Chapter 18: Destiny Beckons, a Batman - FanFiction
Football: Guardiola stays cool despite shock Man City defeat
Football: Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to
Now into its third year in Singapore, the International Champions Cup (ICC) is set for its most exciting edition yet with Serie A heavyweights Juventus and Inter Milan, and English Premier League (EPL) giants Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur confirming their participation yesterday.
Man United, Spurs, Juventus, & Inter To Play Friendlies In S
Ta' Qali (Malta) (AFP) - Alvaro Morata's remarkable revival continued on Tuesday as he scored twice for Spain in a 2-0 victory over Malta. After edging past Norway 2-1 on Saturday, Morata's
Alvaro Morata double gives Spain victory over Malta
Spurs need to 'believe' "We need to assess Dele in the next few days, but the hamstring is a muscle that you need to be careful with - in terms of the mechanism of the injury," he said.
Heel Spurs: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment
Atletico Madrid left it late to see off Girona 2-0 at home on Tuesday as strikes from Diego Godin and Antoine Griezmann. The win kept up their faint hopes of catching La Liga leaders FC Barcelona. Team captain Godin broke the deadlock in the 76th minute with the help of the Video Assistant Referee
Football: Experienced Liverpool making a big statement, says Klopp. Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after the match with Jordan Henderson. "That says something, it's a big statement
Experienced Liverpool making a big statement, says Klopp
Chelsea have completed the signing of Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, who will join the club on loan from Juventus until the end of the season, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.
Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain completes Chelsea loan deal
MIAMI (AFP) - Fifa moved a step closer on Friday (March 15) to expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams and hopes to confirm the plans in June if a suitable co-host can be found.. Read
World Cup Streaming
AD
fanical.com/Womens-World-Cup
Report Ad
US Women's World Cup. Women's Soccer Blogs, Forums & News
Lucas Moura, from PSG cast-off to Tottenham idol AFP May 8, 2019 AFP No Comments Paris (AFP) - Rejected by Paris Saint-Germain after the world-record signing of Neymar, Lucas Moura propelled Tottenham to heights the French giants could only dream of Wednesday by single-handedly firing Spurs into a first Champions League final.
Lucas Moura - from PSG cast-off to Tottenham idol - Khaleej Times
0 comments:
Post a Comment