Bayern vs Marseille April 3rd 2012

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has promised to field his strongest side for the Champions league quarter-final second leg against Marseille despite taking a two-goal advantage into the home tie.

Bayern claimed a 2-0 lead in the first leg at the Stade Velodrome and had their confidence boosted further with a Bundesliga win over Nurnberg in the Bavarian derby at the weekend, while OM enjoyed a break after their match against Montpellier was postponed.


Although Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller, Luiz Gustavo and Jerome Boateng all face suspension if they receive a yellow card in the clash at the Allianz Arena, Heynckes claims he will not be deterred from naming them in his starting line-up.

"My line-up will not be influenced at all,'' Heynckes told a press conference.

"Also, I think we have very intelligent players in our team who know how to behave on the field.

"Of course we have a psychological advantage from the result of the first leg, but against Dortmund (when they came from behind to win 3-2), Marseille proved what they could do in the Champions League.''

Bayern striker Mario Gomez, who scored the opening goal in last Tuesday's win in France, has shrugged off comparisons with Barcelona's Lionel Messi after his opening goal in the first leg boosted his Champions League scoring tally to 11, one less than the Argentinian forward.

"Of course I am a striker and will score many goals, but the team's success is an absolute priority,'' Gomez said.

"I'm not crazy and I don't compare myself with Messi. He is perhaps the best there ever was. It inspires me to score more goals.

"Of course it's nothing bad being compared to him but we are two totally different types of players.

"For me it's important that we achieve our goals as a team. We have big goals and we want to achieve this.''

OM have already won in Germany when they came from behind to win 3-2 at Dortmund to secure their place in the knockout rounds thanks to goals by Loic Remy and Andre Ayew.

Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is likely to return after serving his one-match ban in the first leg but midfielder Alou Diarra is suspended.

Stephane M'Bia, Jeremy Morel and Morgan Amalfitano face a ban in the next Champions League game should OM progress after picking up bookings at the Stade Velodrome.

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