Bayern Munich have a score to settle with AC Milan from last season and will take inspiration from their last visit to the Italian city when they defeated Internazionale.

The German club have no doubt about the size of the task that they face on Tuesday evening in the Giuseppe Meazza and are aiming to avoid the same result that they suffered last term.

In the first knockout round of the Champions League a year ago, Milan cruised to a 4-1 victory before holding out for a draw in the second leg in Germany.

“Last year we showed two different faces - one at home and one in Milan - and I hope it is the one from Munich which we see tomorrow,” the Bayern coach said.

“Football is a team game and if we can be compact, and keep our concentration for the full 90 minutes, then we can come away with a good result.

“But I feel this tie will be decided by just one goal. We have just as good a chance of winning here as we do at home.”

Similar Showing

Bayern have already won in the same arena this term, when they defeated Inter in the group stage and, although a repeat of the 2-0 scoreline maybe a lot to ask, they will want a similar performance.

The victory in September ended an 18-year wait for a victory on Italian soil for the Bavarian giants, but Milan will be a tough proposition.

Having won 15 of their previous 18 home games in the competitoin, Carlo Ancelotti's outfit have progress to the quarter finals for he sixth consecutive time.

History is also on the hosts' side as Milan have lost just twice in 15 games against German clubs in the Giuseppe Meazza and have beaten Bayern in all four of their previous meetings.

In fact, the visitors have won only once in eight games against their opponents this week and that was in Munich in 1989/90 when they won 2-1, but were still eliminated on away goals.

The statistics may appear to make Milan look somewhat invincible, but this season they have been beaten by AEK and Lille and needed an extra time winner in the second leg at home to Celtic in the previous round to reach this far.

While Bayern have fallen below expectations in the Bundesliga, they have only been beaten once this term in Europe.

After easing through the group stage, the Germans lost 3-2 in a thrilling encounter with Real Madrid before progressing on away goals following a 2-1 win in the Allianz Arena.

TEAM NEWS

AC Milan: Alberto Gilardino is set to start up front as Ronaldo is cup-tied, having already played for Real Madrid in the Champions League this term. Paolo Maldini is likely to return after recovering from a knee injury and Alessandro Nesta should be included too.

Probable Starting XI: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Maldini, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Kaka; Gilardino.

Bayern Munich: Oliver Kahn is missing after he was suspended by UEFA for his behaviour during a random drugs test after the game against Real Madrid last month. Mark Van Bommel is also suspended after he was punished for his gesture towards the crowd in the Bernabéu in the first leg of the tie against the Spanish giants in the last round.

Probable Starting XI: Rensing; Sagnol, Lucio, Van Buyten, Lahm; Salihamidzic, Ottl, Hargreaves, Schweinsteiger; Makaay, Podolski.

PREDICTION

If Bayern start this encounter like they did the first leg against Real Madrid, then Milan will exploit those same defensive frailties. But if Ottmar Hitzfeld can tighten things up then this tie should be decided in the second leg, as the German coach has predicted. It could well be the case, however, that the Bundesliga side will be playing catch up when the two sides meet again in the Allianz Arena as the Italians should make playing at home count.

AC Milan 2 - 1 Bayern Munich

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Tags: Champions, League, preview, Milan, Bayern, Munich

Posted on October 9th, 2007 by Klaus Roe
Filed under: News, Football, Fun and Games