BARCELONA — Bayern Munich is anticipating Barcelona's bid to overturn its 4-0 deficit to be led by an inspired Lionel Messi rather than the subdued version that turned up in last week's semifinal, first leg. Bayern takes on the Catalan giant at the Camp Nou in Wednesday's Champions League second leg with one foot in the final after the drubbing meted out to Messi and his men in Munich. World Footballer of the year Messi produced an uncharacteristic limp performance in Munich, but Bayern striker Thomas Mueller believes the Argentine star will be back to his brilliant best Wednesday. “In the first leg we barely saw him,” reflected Mueller, who scored twice and set up a third in the surprisingly lopsided first leg. “That was down to us even if we know he was limited with an injury. “We are going to see another Messi Wednesday, even if we hope we don't. I think we'll have more work to do with him than the last time. “Messi is a talisman for them. He's a player who scores 50 goals in the season.” The Germans, intent on atoning for last year's final defeat on home turf to Chelsea, are mindful of letting any hint of complacency scupper their attempt to make it to the Wembley climax. “We opened the door (to the final) but we haven't gone through it yet,” cautioned midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger at the eve-of-match press conference Tuesday. “It'll be hard Wednesday, few teams can offer resistance to Barcelona here,” he added. “We know they've got a lot of pride and we have to be concentrated as we were in the first leg.” Mueller suggested Barca would try to upset their visitors “with their ball possession.” “We've got to defend well, and leave the ball far away from our goalkeeper.” As for last week's surprise result, Mueller maintained that Barcelona had not played as poorly as the scoreline suggested. “They didn't play a catastrophic match,” he reasoned. “We made the difference physically and mentally. We exploited the set pieces, and our size. And it was thanks to our good defensive work that Barca had few chances.” Even Barcelona defender Gerard Pique insists that the Catalans are the only side capable of pulling off the type of comeback needed. Only three clubs have ever managed to recover such a deficit in European competition, with the last being Barca's bitter rival Real Madrid, which came back from losing 5-1 to Jupp Heynckes's Borussia Moenchengladbach in the UEFA Cup in 1985-86. However, speaking to media Tuesday, Pique insisted that the mere presence of Messi in the Barcelona starting lineup at the Camp Nou will give the home side the belief that it can still win the tie. “I know that it is complicated. But of course it can happen,” said Pique, 26. “I believe that the only team capable of overturning a four-goal deficit against Bayern is Barcelona. When I take to the field and I see Leo (Messi), Xavi, Cesc (Fabregas), Andres (Iniesta), of course I am confident.” — Agencies
