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Beasts Bayern must show teeth

European champions Bayern Munich need to live up to their "Black beasts" nickname when they face Real Madrid in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Bayern Munich need to live up to their "Black beasts" nickname boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says. (AAP)

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says the European champions need to live up to their "Black beasts" nickname when they face Real Madrid in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final, first-leg.

Real fans have dubbed Bayern "la bestia negra" (Black beasts) or "Bete Noire" after a series of key defeats to the German giants, most recently in the 2012 Champions League semi-final, which was decided by a penalty shoot-out in Madrid.

Bayern have suffered a dip in form with three wins in their last seven games since winning the Bundesliga title last month with a record seven matches to spare and Rummenigge wants to see a more threatening display in Madrid.

"We're known as 'la bestia negra' down there and we need to show them 'la bestia negra' is back," said Rummenigge after Bayern's unimpressive 2-0 Bundesliga win at bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig on Saturday.

Rummenigge has called for courage - and at least one away goal in Madrid's first leg.

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"We need to score at least one goal. That's what we learnt from Dortmund's meetings with Real Madrid," he added after Borussia Dortmund bowed out of the Champions League, despite a 2-0 quarter-final win at home, having lost 3-0 in Madrid.

Bayern were boosted on Sunday when Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer returned to training having missed the last two games with a calf injury and left-back David Alaba took part having missed the Braunschweig game with a cold.

It remains to be seen whether Real's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is fit for the Bernabeu clash, but Rummenigge has said he wants to see the Portugal star lead Real's attack in Madrid.


2 min read

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Source: AAP


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