MUNICH (AP) - Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is optimistic that defenders Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng will be able to overcome injuries in time to face Real Madrid in the return leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Bayern, which needs to overturn a 2-1 defeat from last Wednesday’s first leg in Munich, is confident Robert Lewandowski will be able to play after the Poland striker took a full part in training on Sunday.
Hummels suffered an ankle injury in training the previous Sunday, while Boateng was also rested for Saturday’s scoreless draw at Bayer Leverkusen due to a thigh problem. Both completed individual training exercises on Sunday.
“There’ll be a test tonight,” Rummenigge said before the team departed for Madrid on Monday. “Everything went well yesterday in training, also with Boateng. Robert was even training with the team. We have to wait. At the end of the day, we’re not so pessimistic.”
Defender Javi Martinez is suspended following his sending off in the first leg, meaning Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti would have to turn to Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba in central defense if Hummels and Boateng don’t recover on time.
Lewandowski, who has scored 38 goals across all competitions this season, hasn’t played since injuring his right shoulder against Borussia Dortmund on April 8. Lewandowski scored four goals against Madrid for previous club Dortmund in the 2013 semifinals.
“I’m doing well. I’m very happy that I could be there today in training. Everything’s OK,” Lewandowski said on Sunday.
Rummenigge was counting on Bayern’s character to see the side through.
“Bayern Munich is a little notoriously famous for going into such games with extraordinary will,” Rummenigge said.
“We’ll throw everything into it. Whether it’s enough in the end, I’ve no idea. I hope, it would be great of course, if the team could turn it around,” the Bayern chairman added.
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