Two goals from Luis Suarez took Barca to the brink of a seventh Champions League semi-final in eight seasons as they romped to a 3-1 win in the first-leg in Paris. PHOTO: AFP
BARCELONA/BERLIN: Pep Guardiola admits that the second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Porto on Tuesday is effectively a 'final' for Bayern Munich with the injury-hit Bavarians staring down the barrel.
Bayern's dream of repeating their 2013 treble was left in tatters last Wednesday when Ricardo Quaresma poached two early goals before captain Jackson Martinez grabbed a late third to seal Porto's 3-1 win in the first-leg at the Estadio do Dragao.
Bayern have never over-turned a two-goal deficit in European competition and Guardiola knows his side face an uphill task at the Allianz Arena. "This game is our final and we'll have to put in a super performance," said Bayern's head coach. "It will be hard, but we have to try and I have a lot of trust in my players."
To compound his problems, Guardiola has eight players on the injury list which comes after team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt dramatically quit last Thursday after 40 years with Bayern, citing a deterioration of faith in the medical staff.
The players also realise the magnitude of the occasion. "We know that this is the most important game of the season," said Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. "Everyone will do everything they can so that we put in a top performance."
Bayern certainly need a tighter defensive display having fallen foul of Porto's pressing game.
All three of Porto's first-leg goals came from Bayern errors as Xabi Alonso, Dante and then Jerome Boateng were pressed into mistakes as the hosts gratefully converted their chances.
"It's not over yet," said Boateng, eager to make amends. "We're playing at home, so anything is possible. The important thing is that we keep things to zero at the back and get a goal as quickly as possible."
Porto also have a crucial week as they head to Munich before facing Portuguese leaders Benfica next Sunday with Julen Lopetegui's side only three points behind the Lisbon giants.
The hero of the first tie also echoed Boateng’s words that nothing is set in stone yet. “Our attitude made the difference in the first leg and we knew we couldn't make any mistakes," said Quaresma. “Nothing has been decided yet, we know how difficult it may be at Bayern."
Barcelona keen to show PSG no mercy
Barcelona defender Dani Alves has warned his side against complacency when they host a Paris Saint-Germain side bolstered by the return of key personnel to the Camp Nou.
Two goals from Luis Suarez took Barca to the brink of a seventh Champions League semi-final in eight seasons as they romped to a 3-1 win in the first-leg in Paris.
However, a late own goal from Jeremy Mathieu offered the French champions a glimmer of hope as they welcome back top-scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfield maestro Marco Verratti.
"We will not speculate with the result because we don't know how to," Alves told Barca's website. "The philosophy and the spirit of the team is to challenge for every ball as if it was the last. We cannot think about our advantage, but just control the game and look to score."
Barca remain on course for a treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Valencia on Saturday thanks to goals in the first and last minute from Suarez and Lionel Messi, who registered his 400th goal for the club.
And Luis Enrique's men will also have key players back available as Alves returns after he too missed the first-leg through suspension, whilst Andres Iniesta is expected to overcome the back bruising he suffered at the Parc des Princes in time to feature.
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