Bayern need Munich miracle to halt Barcelona march

Pep Guardiola has promised embattled Bayern Munich will put up a fight in on 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.

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.

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. “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.