Bayern look to Toni for cup rescue

Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was upbeat despite his heavily fancied team being held to a 1-1 home draw with Zenit St Petersburg in their UEFA Cup semi-final on Thursday.

There was one very big reason for Hitzfeld's seeming lack of concern - Luca Toni. The 1.94-metre striker, who has been on a goal-scoring tear with 35 goals in 41 matches in all competitions, was suspended for the home leg but will be back in the line-up for the return leg on May 1 in St Petersburg.

"Luca Toni is a world champion and one of the best in the business," Hitzfeld said. "He's obviously extremely difficult to replace.

"We're always able to score a goal or two away and besides that we've got Luca back in the line-up."

Hitzfeld had hoped Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose would be able to fill the gap left by Toni, who had scored eight goals in Bayern's last four matches and rescued them from elimination in the quarter-finals with two goals in the final five minutes of extra time at Getafe.

Toni, top of the UEFA Cup scoring table with 10 goals, helped the club win the German Cup last Saturday and, with a 10-point lead, to the brink of the Bundesliga championship with five rounds left.

But the two German strikers were unable to find the net against Zenit despite plenty of chances, leaving the 66,000 Bayern fans longing for Toni and his uncanny ability to be in the right spot at the right time.

"We had enough chances to win, especially late in the match when we had three or four good chances," said Hitzfeld. "I think our chances of advancing to the final are still good.

"We're strong away from home."