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| Post subject: Reds seek at least a point against Inter |
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26.09.2006
The Grand Hotel Brun, Bayern's team HQ in Milan, was deliberately and carefully chosen with a certain feel for history and tradition. The squad's base before and after Wednesday evening's Champions League meeting with Internazionale (Live in English from 8.30 pm CET on FCB Web Radio) is the establishment used by a previous generation on the last occasion the Bavarians won an away match in Italy. That was a 3-1 victory at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium against Inter on 7 December 1988, almost 18 years ago.
"Centuries have passed since then," Oliver Kahn sarcastically remarked. The game became known as the "Miracle of Milan" after Bayern, against all the odds, progressed to the 1988 UEFA Cup quarter-finals. However, Milan is more meaningful to current captain Kahn as the venue for the 2001 Champions League final. "I still remember that as a fantastic experience, but it's the only good memory. It's high time we had something new to celebrate."
Hoeneß happy with a point
Bayern will certainly be keen to end a disastrous run against Italian teams and also improve on their distinctly patchy away record in the Champions League, featuring just two victories in their last 19 road trips. Just six months ago, the German champions took a 4-1 pummelling from AC Milan. "We know we have to improve, and this would be a good match to make a start," Hasan Salihamidzic declared.
No one is ignoring the home side's calibre. "Even when we had a side featuring the Beckenbauers, Breitners and Rummenigges, we didn't go to Inter thinking it would be a stroll," Uli Hoeneß remarked. Both the general manager and fellow board director Karl Heinz Rummenigge would be happy enough with a point on Wednesday. "If we draw away from home and win the return in Munich, we'll win the group," Hoeneß calculated.
Good omens
Hoeneß described Inter as "one of the best teams in Europe," while Kahn rated the north Italians as "one of the few clubs capable of winning the trophy," but Bayern are naturally hoping to return home with all three points. "We'll not be regarded as favourites in Milan, but occasionally I have the impression our team responds well to that," Rummenigge observed.
Salihamidzic reckoned going top of the Bundesliga at the weekend meant Bayern were "full of confidence," and the German champions were further buoyed by the situation after the first matchday in Group B. "We have it easier than them. It's not a must-win situation for us," Felix Magath remarked following his side's 4-0 opening victory over Spartak Moscow. By contrast, Inter's shock 1-0 defeat to Sporting in Lisbon meant "they're under severe pressure, which could be a slight advantage for us," Kahn reasoned.
Not yet up to speed
Furthermore, the Nerazzurri only resumed competitive action early in September and still appear a little rusty. No-one can fail to be impressed by a list of star signings featuring Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Herman Crespo, Fabian Grosso and Patrick Vieira, although the former Arsenal man misses Wednesday's match with suspension. "But the new arrivals mean they don't yet have a settled line-up," Magath argued.
In fairness, Bayern are in a similar exploratory phase regarding their preferred formation, as Magath is contemplating a change to the three-man front line he sent out against Moscow, Bielefeld and Aachen. "I'll decide whether to play two or three strikers a few hours before the match," the Munich head coach revealed.
Stern European test
Regardless of the final line-up on Wednesday, Kahn called on his men to be "tactically smarter" than in recent matches, and to keep errors "to a minimum." The club captain felt the game had a special significance: "This is the match which will tell us where this team stands in European terms."
Probable line-ups:
Internazionale: Julio Cesar - Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Grosso - Zanetti, Dacourt, Stankovic - Figo - Ibrahimovic, Crespo
Bayern Munich: Kahn - Sagnol, Lucio, van Buyten, Lahm - Ottl - Salihamidzic, van Bommel, Schweinsteiger - Makaay, Pizarro
Also in matchday squad: Rensing, Demichelis, Scholl, Karimi, Podolski, Santa Cruz, Dos Santos
Referee: Steve Bennett (England)
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