Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich preview - Mourinho seeking improved fortune

Posted Wednesday, April 25, 2012 by PA

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is hoping for a change of luck in Wednesday night's Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.

Mourinho has claimed he had been bereft of fortune in previous matches at the last four stage after twice losing to Liverpool (in 2005 and 2007) - when at Chelsea - and again to arch rivals Barcelona last season - a defeat he blamed on a UEFA conspiracy.

Madrid go into the second leg with Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu 2-1 down with a place against either Barca or Chelsea the prize for the winner.

"Overall I have not been lucky in semi-finals of the Champions League," he said.

"I lost one with Chelsea (2005) due to a goal that wasn't a goal, the ball didn't cross the line. Another season (2007) we lost on penalties and when you lose a semi-final on penalties it is due to bad luck and I lost the semi-final last season because of what everyone knows."

The Portuguese admits he also has more interest than usual in the other semi-final due to Chelsea's involvement.

He said: "If it were Barcelona against Milan or Arsenal or any other team then it wouldn't matter to me who progressed, I would want the best team to win, but because it is Chelsea I feel slightly different.

"I would like it if the luck went to my old players."

Mourinho is confident his players will handle the occasion against Bayern, just as they did at the weekend.

He said: "I don't know if the Champions League is more important than the league, because the best team always wins the league and this isn't always the case in Europe.

"However, the final of the Champions League is the most important thing in football.

"It is almost like a long-awaited final, but I see calmness in the players. I don't like an excess of emotion, nor a lack of it."

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes is preparing for a "battle of the giants".

While a 0-0 draw would suffice for the visitors to reach the final in their own stadium, few expect the clash to end goalless.

Heynckes is not expecting that either as he prepares for one of the most important nights of the season.

"It's going to be spectacular. It is going to be a real treat with everything which belongs in such a football game," he said.

"Just a fortnight ago, people were saying that Barcelona are the be all and end all, but now Real have gone and won in Barcelona.

"It will be a battle of the giants. Both clubs have a great history and I am looking forward to it, and I hope it has a positive outcome for us."

Heynckes expects Real to attack his side, but he is not going to set his side up to build a wall in front of the goal.

Instead, he has promised his team will play their part in the spectacle by remaining faithful to the style of play which has seen them score 71 goals in the Bundesliga and 27 times in Europe.

"We are capable of scoring at the Bernabeu," he said at a press conference in the Spanish capital. "At the same time, we have shown that we don't concede many.

"The first-leg result gives us a small advantage, but Real have amazing goalscoring potential and have scored nearly 150 goals so we will be prepared for that."

Bastian Schweinsteiger says the best way to win will be to try to frustrate Real and their fans.

"Of course the stadium has an influence on the game and we are going to have to be particularly careful in the first 20 minutes," he said.

"If the fans then start to see that we are resisting, then I am sure it will quieten down a bit."