Buoyant Bordeaux aiming to upset Bayern

November 3, 2009

Bordeaux travel to Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on Tuesday aiming to stun the home side and take a step towards a place in the Champions League’s knock-out phase.

The Group A leaders went top of the French league on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Monaco and while Germany’s biggest team were held to a 0-0 draw by struggling Stuttgart, Laurent Blanc’s side are brimming with confidence.

“That was a good game, good preparation for the trip to Munich,” said Bordeaux captain Alou Diarra who said Bayern are favourites although his side top the French table and are unbeaten after 39 home league games.

“Just as we were patient against Monaco, so we must do the same against Bayern. We must defend well.

“We go to Munich with the firm intention of getting a result.

“A team like Bayern knows how to deal with a game like this, but we want to create a surprise.”

Defender Marc Planus – who scored the winner in Bordeaux’s 2-1 win over Munich on October 21 – scored the only goal against Monaco, but Blanc says he expects a bigger challenge in Bavaria.

“As preparation for a Champions League game goes, that was good but Tuesday is another competition altogether,” said Blanc, a World Cup winner with France in 1998.

Bayern have been erratic this season and coach Louis van Gaal has struggled to find his strongest combination.

Having hammered Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 in the German Cup last week, Bayern laboured to a goalless draw at struggling Stuttgart who managed to break a five-game losing streak.

Adding to Bayern’s woes is the fact they could be without both their chief playmakers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben against Bordeaux.

Their absence prompted team manager Uli Hoeness to lament: “I am not normally someone who is concerned about injuries. But Bayern without Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben is not the same team.”

Bayern are third in the group and need to take points off the French side on Tuesday to keep their dreams of reaching the knock-out stages alive after the defeat in France on October 21.

Robben and Ribery – who the German media have labelled ‘Robbery’ due to their ability to unlock defences – are both struggling with knee injuries, but Dutch star Robben may be fit to face Bordeaux, said coach Louis van Gaal.

Bayern are fifth in the German league with Ribery out for at least another month with a persistent patella strain.

Robben has recovered remarkably quickly from his knee operation at the start of last month and van Gaal said he is likely to play him on Tuesday.

“I preferred to rest him against Stuttgart and save him for the match against Bordeaux,” said van Gaal.

BERLIN (AFP)

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