WHEN your team racks up six unanswered goals in a sizzling home display, you'd expect the atmosphere among your fellow supporters to be a jovial, bouncy one.
You wouldn't, for example, expect to see 300 members of the Bavarian-based police force clash with 100 enraged Bayern Munich fans.
Half a dozen goals wasn't enough to sate the anger of Die Roten's rowdy attendees on Saturday as news that manager Louis van Gaal would be sacked come the end of the current campaign soured a flawless performance against Hamburg.
Despite winning the domestic treble and reaching the Champions League Final – which they lost to tonight's opponents Inter Milan – last season, Van Gaal has been asked to step down from the role as Bayern trail leaders Borussia Dortmund by 16 points.
Italian powerhouse Inter got the better of their German opponents at the Santiago Bernabeu last May, winning 2-0 to secure a treble of European Cup, Serie A title and Coppa Italia but both sides have slipped considerably from their fearless form of last term.
Jose Mourinho decided he'd hang around in Madrid beyond the celebrations but his replacement Rafa Benitez pulled off a remarkable achievement in turning a team of all-conquering winners into a sheepish band of uninspired losers. Thankfully, a painful seven months was all it took for him to be shown the door with the replacement's replacement, Leonardo, orchestrating a minor revival.
Stopper Lucio and playmaker Wesley Sneijder have been rushed back by Inter while Diego Milito, scorer of both goals in last year's Final, is injured. If Brazilian, and former Bayern player, Lucio is unable to play then either Ivan Cordoba or Cristian Chivu will partner Andrea Ranocchia in central defence.
Giampaolo Pazzini is ineligible, which is a major loss, and means out-of-form Goran Pandev could start alongside Samuel Eto'o up top.
Pandev is 3-1 with Skybet to score at anytime but a better bet would be Eto'o at 2-1 with Blue Square.
Bayern are in better shape and forward Mario Gomez should recover from an ankle injury. He's a good bet at 7-5 to score anytime with Paddy Power.
However, Munich are struggling slightly in the middle of the defence after selling Martin Demichelis to Malaga in January.
Ukrainian midfielder Anatoliy Tymoschuk has filled in with mixed results and, if Leonardo is smart, he'll be targeted by the lightning quick Eto'o.
The bookies are expecting goals with the best both teams to score odds at 8-11 with Blue Square, Stan James and Skybet.
I'm not quite convinced – there's always the possibility of both teams throwing caution to the wind in a real thriller but the first leg was a real dreary 90 minutes and against equal opposition there's a fear both sides may remain cagey.
For under three goals look at William Hill who pay out on that market at 19-20.
With just one goal in it there's no reason to rule out penalties tonight and Paddy Power are offering a staggering 55-1 on either side to progress via a shoot-out.
I think Bayern have too much going forward for Inter. Arjen Robben is flying at the moment and Franck Ribery has finally joined him in the starting line-up.
From Thomas Mueller in midfield to Miroslav Klose on the bench, Munich have an array of goalscorers they can call on. I think they'll do it – for Bayern to win to nil, take the
23-10 offered at Hills.
Recommendations
- Arjen Robben to score (8-5, Paddy Power)
- Bayern Munich to win (19-20, Paddy Power)
