Germany coach Joachim Low fancies Bayern Munich's chances of advancing to the Champions League final despite mounting injury problems and facing in-form Barcelona.
The semifinalists' results from the weekend could not have been more opposite. Barcelona humiliated bottom club Cordoba 8-0 in La Liga, while Bayern suffered a 2-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen, their second consecutive loss after crashing out of the DFB-Pokal at home to Borussia Dortmund last week.
On top of that, Arjen Robben suffered a season-ending muscle injury, joining David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Franck Ribery on the sidelines. Striker Robert Lewandowski is also less than 100 percent fit with a broken nose and jaw as well as a concussion after a collision with Dortmund keeper Mitch Langerak.
However, in spite of the recent run of events, Germany coach Low told Bild he fancies Bayern's chances of going through to the final in Berlin.
"Of course, Bayern have a chance against Barcelona," Low said. "Even though Barcelona appear to have a better run, Bayern, in spite of the injuries, still have enough top players to put up some resistance."
Low should know. The core of the current Bayern team also formed the core of Germany's World Cup-winning squad. Keeper Manuel Neuer, defender Jerome Boateng, as well as midfielders Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger all were crucial for the Nationalmannschaft, who won their first major international title since 1996 when a Gotze goal in extra time in the final secured the trophy.
"There are still six World Cup winners available for selection, and Bayern have the advantage of playing the return leg at home. It's a duel at eye-level for me, and I am looking forward to seeing two fantastic football teams," Low said.
While Neuer, Boateng, Muller, and Lahm are set to start at the Camp Nou, and Low's captain Bastian Schweinsteiger also has good chances of making the first XI, Germany's World Cup hero Gotze's role at Bayern has been questioned once again, especially following the Dortmund match which he began on the bench.
Gotze, however, was also a substitute in the World Cup final, and when inserted Low famously told him to "show the world that you are better than Messi." The former Dortmund midfielder will face the Argentine for the first time since the Rio de Janeiro final.
"It was down to the situation," Low said. "It was about motivation in a World Cup final. We don't need to discuss that both of them are extraordinary players. And amid all the Gotze discussions, we shall not forget that [at 22] he is still very young. We have seen several times just how good he is."