BAYERN MUNICH defender Jerome Boateng is confident he will be able to play in the crucial Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
Boateng made his return from three months out with a groin injury against Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend, playing 68 minutes of a 1-1 draw which meant Bayern had to wait a little longer to confirm themselves as Bundesliga champions for the fourth successive season.
The Germany international had been one of Bayern's most consistent players during the first-half of the campaign and his return could prove timely, with Pep Guardiola's team looking to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit against the Spanish side at the Allianz Arena.
"Of course, I can play," Boateng said.
"I will do my very best to recover as much as possible. We want to give it our all, and so do I. It's clear that I am not yet back at the level I was at before the injury, but it doesn't matter when it comes to this match.
"I was just happy to finally be back out on the pitch I am very pleased, even though I played two or three bad passes. But I need to get a feeling for the pitch again - the passes, the scenes, the turns. That's all new to me after three months, but I am pleased, and will not change my game because of two or three bad passes. I want to play on Tuesday."
Another player desperate to play in the semi-final second leg is Franck Ribery. The winger missed the home draw with Monchengladbach with a back problem but was free to train on Monday as he called on Guardiola to pick him as the man to unlock Atletico's dogged defence.
He said: "I am doing a lot better. I am ready for the game against Atletico. I am really looking forward to playing against them. I have to play."
For Guardiola, Tuesday could be the night that defines his spell in Germany ahead of moving to Manchester City next summer. Win, and he is into the Champions League final; lose, and his time with Bayern might be remembered as much for three semi-final exits as it will be for their domestic dominance.
Atletico lead courtesy of Saul Niguez's superb solo goal at the Vicente Calderon last week but Bayern have a formidable home record in the Champions League and must be confident of turning the tie around.
Since losing the 2014 semi-final to Real Madrid, Bayern have won all 11 Champions League games in Munich. Another victory would equal Manchester United's record in the competition from 2006 to 2009.
However, Atletico will not rest on their slender advantage and head coach Diego Simeone insists his team will be going for the win in Bavaria: "Let's go out and win. We know that the draw gets us through but we cannot think of staying in it. Winning is the essence of the game," said Simeone at his pre-match press conference.
"I do not have any shame to acknowledge that I have fear - now and before every game."
Simeone gave little away about whether influential defender Diego Godin would return from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the first leg but praised the performances of fellow centre-backs Jose Gimenez, Stefan Savic and Lucas Hernandez this season.
"We are fortunate to have four major centre-backs," he said.
"Godin's presence is very important but the form of Gimenez, Hernandez and Savic gives us security."
BAYERN MUNICH V ATLETICO MADRID TALKING POINTS
Five points of intrigue heading into the decisive clash...
TACTICS
Diego Simeone got the better of Pep Guardiola in the first leg. Atletico's high pressing game deep in the Bayern half yielded the early goal, putting increased pressure on the German club to get an away goal. Atletico's typically brilliantly-organised defensive unit meant they did not get it.
However, Guardiola did not help himself with the decision to bench Thomas Muller in favour of Thiago Alcantara. Stability in midfield was Guardiola's thinking but the move did not bring the results that he expected - highlighted by Saul's goal as he weaved his way past Thiago and Xabi Alonso.
It will be interesting to see whether Guardiola sticks with that tactic in the second leg or takes another approach. Simeone is not under pressure to change as the impetus is on Bayern to get back into the tie.
AWAY GOAL
Failing to score at Vicente Calderon was a huge blow for Bayern. It means they have to beat Atletico by a two-goal margin - something no team has managed to do in any competition since Celta Vigo's 2-0 home win over Simeone's side in February 2015.
If Atletico were to score in Germany then that could be terminal to Bayern's hopes of reaching the final as they would then need to score three goals, which would be a very tall order against this Atletico side. The longer it remains goalless, the more likely the game is to open up.
CASE FOR THE DEFENCES
Bayern had been without Jerome Boateng for just over three months prior to his return from injury at the weekend, while Diego Godin missed the first leg for Atletico. Both players are among the best central defenders in the world and their quality could help to influence such an important game.
Whether either will be 100 per cent fit for Tuesday night, that is the question. During the 2014 Champions League final Simeone made a mistake in starting Diego Costa when the striker was not completely fit. That cost his side a much-needed substitute, and a wrong decision in Germany could prove costly.
FORWARD THINKING
In Robert Lewandowski Bayern boast the Bundesliga's top scorer and one of the most consistent goal-getters on the continent. Muller, who scored at the weekend and must surely return to the starting line-up in Europe, thrives from a deeper role. The pair have each managed eight goals in the Champions League this season.
Antoine Griezmann is Atletico's leading light and the Frenchman hit his 30th goal of the campaign at the weekend. He is complemented by the oft-maligned Fernando Torres, who has also been finding the back of the net regularly again recently.
Torres is no stranger to a big goal on the big occasion, scoring a semi-final winner for Chelsea in the Champions League in 2012 and netting the strike that settled the 2008 European Championship final against a Germany defence that included Bayern's Philipp Lahm.
UNFAMILIAR FOES
The Champions League increasingly throws up familiar fixtures in the knockout phases but this is a rare example of a new tie.
Prior to last week's first leg, Atletico and Bayern had only met twice before - in the drawn 1974 European Cup final and its subsequent replay - both at Heysel. Bayern scored a late equaliser in the first game and won the second match 4-0.
