MUNICH — Bayern Munich faces the litmus test in its bid to become the first German team to win the treble of European, League and Cup titles when it hosts Spanish giant Barcelona in Tuesday's Champions League semifinal first-leg. Having swept aside all rivals to win this season's Bundesliga title, Bayern is bidding to reach its third Champions League final in four years, but Spanish champion-elect Barcelona could block its path to Wembley. Bayern warmed-up for the showdown at Munich's Allianz Arena with a 6-1 win at Hanover 96 Saturday, the same scoreline by which it routed Wolfsburg in last Wednesday's German Cup semifinal. Coach Jupp Heynckes dropped a hint for Tuesday by incorporating both strikers Mario Gomez and Claudio Pizarro into a 4-4-2 formation, rather than Bayern's usual 4-2-3-1 line-up. With first-choice forward Mario Mandzukic suspended, Gomez has staked a strong case to face Barcelona with a hat trick in six minutes against Wolfsburg, then two goals in Hanover. Likewise Pizarro set up both Gomez's goals at Hanover while scoring two of his own, and with an eye on Barcelona the 34-year-old boldly declared: “We're better, we have more quality in our squad”. Arsenal has proved Bayern is far from unbeatable in Munich with a 2-0 win as the Gunners lost the last 16 tie on away goals after the Germans' 3-1 victory in London, but the host has belief in abundance. “We are confident and we are assuming we will go through,” said Bayern's director of sport Matthias Sammer, as the Bavarians claimed three more Bundesliga records at Hanover. But Barcelona will be a significant step up from what Bayern has faced recently in the German league and it warmed up with Cesc Fabregas sealing a 1-0 win against Levante Saturday to keep it 13 points clear at the top of the Spanish league. Star midfielder Lionel Messi has not played since coming of the bench in the second-leg of Barca's quarterfinal against Paris Saint-Germain on April 10, but is expected to start against Bayern. “Messi is with the team and he is able to compete, although that's a decision for the coaching staff,” Barcelona technical director Andoni Zubizarreta said on Barca's website (www.fcbarcelona.es). Barcelona is overwhelming favorite on paper and midfielder Xavi said he expects a battle royal in Bavaria. “Tuesday will be brutal,” said the 33-year-old Spain star. “Munich is a city which lives for football. It's true FC Bayern are presently in stratospheric form, but Champions League games are often decided by nuances. “We'll give everything we have to get a good result in Munich.” Bayern has no excuses for underestimating Barcelona after its 4-0 thumping at the Camp Nou stadium in the 2009 Champions League quarterfinal, when Messi netted twice as Barca went on to win the title. The host led 4-0 at half-time to leave Bayern shell-shocked and the defeat signaled the end of ex-Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann's pitifully short 10-month tenure as Munich trainer. But Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes knows his side can ill-afford to focus on Barcelona's individual players and need a good result in Munich before the return leg in Spain on May 1. “Barcelona aren't just about Messi, they have plenty of great players. Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas and David Villa — the list goes on,” said the Bayern boss. But Bayern has its own stars and the manner in which it wrapped up the Bundesliga title with a record six games to spare commands respect. “It will be a big challenge,” admitted Zubizarreta. “We will focus on what we know and what we can do, and how much we let them play.” — Agencies
