Bayern ready to go to the limits to topple Real Madrid

Bastian Schweinsteiger has insisted Bayern Munich must make home advantage count against Real Madrid in today’s Champions League semi-final, first leg.

“It’s all or nothing,” said the Germany midfielder, with Munich’s Allianz Arena set to also host this year’s Champions League final on May 19.

“We have to go to the limits and beyond, but we can do it with our fans behind us.

“It won’t be easy, and it comes down to mental strength. I hope we show that mentality which is a Bayern trademark.”

Real warmed up with a 3-1 win over strugglers Sporting Gijon on Saturday with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 41st league goal of the season, a record achievement matched only by Barca’s Lionel Messi.

In contrast, Bayern were held to a goalless draw in Munich by mid-table Mainz which effectively handed the German league title to Borussia Dortmund with Bayern eight points behind with three games left.

Coach Jupp Heynckes, who took Real Madrid to the 1998 European title, paid the price for resting his best players with captain Philipp Lahm, Thomas Mueller, Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez all starting on the bench.

Real fielded virtually their full strength side at the Bernabeu, even with Sporting second from bottom in La Liga.

“This game was important for us and then on Tuesday (today) we will put out the team that we think is right to get a good result,” said Real’s assistant coach Aitor Karanka.

“Now all the games are important and before we play Barcelona on Saturday we have Bayern and that is all we are thinking about.”

Past encounters

History favours the Germans as the clubs have met in four previous European Cup semi-finals with Bayern prevailing three times (in 1976, 1987 and 2001) to Madrid’s single success in 2000.

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas is the only survivor of the most recent clashes.

The match pits Heynckes against Jose Mourinho, who engineered Bayern’s downfall at the hands of Inter in the 2010 final at Madrid’s Bernabeu.

Between them the teams have 13 European Cups but both are hungry to add to their haul with Bayern, four-times winners, seeking a first title since 2001 and Real their first since 2002 and a record 10th overall.

Bayern Munich hold the upper hand with 10 wins to Real’s six from the two clubs’ 18 past matches.

The most recent meeting between the two came in the 2006-07 Champions League Round of 16 when Bayern prevailed on away goals, losing 3-2 in Spain, but winning the return leg 2-1 in Munich.