Pep Guardiola has said Bayern Munich
will only beat Real Madrid in
Wednesday's UEFA Champions League
semi-final with a vastly improved display
after their lacklustre German Bundesliga
win at bottom-side Eintracht
Braunschweig. European champions
Bayern ended a run of three Bundesliga
games without victory with an
unimpressive 2-0 win at Braunschweig
on Saturday, four days before their
semi-final, first-leg at Madrid's
Bernabeu.
"We won't reach the Champions League
final unless we put in a commanding
performance against Real Madrid," said
Guardiola. "It's not been easy for us
after winning the German title, but we
fought despite a difficult situation."
Having beaten Real in a penalty shoot-
out in the 2012 Champions League
semi-finals, Bayern have been dubbed
"la bestia negra" (black beasts) by Real
fans, but chairman Karl-Heinz
Rummenigge said they must prove
themselves.
"We have the nickname 'la bestia
negra', but now we have to provide
some proof of that in Madrid," said
Rummenigge, who said he hopes Real's
Cristiano Ronaldo will face Bayern.
"When Real Madrid play Bayern Munich,
it's a game the whole world will be
watching. I'm always for seeing the best
players on the pitch."
Peru veteran Claudio Pizarro, 35, and
Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic were
on target in Braunschweig with late
goals in what was only Bayern's third
win in their last seven games in all
competitions. Bayern needed 76
minutes to breach the Braunschweig
defence with the hosts battling to
preserve their top-flight status.
The breakthrough came when Mario
Gotze found Pizarro and he scored
Bayern's first goal in their last three
league games. With the Braunschweig
defence growing tired, Mandzukic
grabbed their second three minutes
from time as Bayern won their first
league match since winning the title
nearly four weeks ago with a record
seven games to spare.
"I am sure that everyone will put in a
top performance on Wednesday,
because if they don't we have no
chance," said captain Philipp Lahm.
Just as they were in recent consecutive
defeats to Augsburg and Borussia
Dortmund, Bayern looked lethargic,
despite Guardiola's pre-match wish for a
polished performance to take a "good
feeling" to Madrid.
"The most important thing was that we
won before the game against Real
Madrid," said Pizarro. "It has given us
confidence and as a striker, it's always
good to get a goal, so I am pretty
pleased with that."
Bayern can expect a difficult test against
Real, who have reached the Champions
League semi-finals for the fourth season
running, but last reached the final in
2002 when they claimed their ninth
European crown. Bayern were without
Manchester United-target Toni Kroos
and Rafinha, who were both suspended,
while left-back David Alaba was missing
with a cold. Germany goalkeeper
Manuel Neuer sat out the trip to
Braunschweig, but should play in Madrid
after recovering from a calf injury.
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