Bayern Munich braced for Basel

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Wednesday, February 22 2012 by SNTV

Intro:

Bayern Munich trained at St. Jakob-Park in Switzerland on Tuesday night ahead of the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 meeting with Basel.

Script:

Bayern Munich travel to Basel aiming to put their domestic form behind them.

Jupp Heynckes' side have only won two of their last five Bundesliga matches since returning from the winter break.

But Bayern frontman Mario Gomez hopes the Bavarian giants will finally come out of hibernation during the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Basel on Wednesday.

SOUNDBITE: (German)

Mario Gomez, Bayern Munich striker: "Our aim is to go a further round in the Champions League, and I think when we show our potential and quality against Basel we will force our way through."

Bayern are no strangers to Basel's St. Jakob-Park, Franck Ribery and co visited Switzerland in last season's Champions League group stage and won 2-1, although they had to come from behind with Bastian Schweinsteiger scoring both goals.

And Heynckes knows Bayern's hosts will raise their game once again.

SOUNDBITE: (German)

Jupp Heynckes, Bayern Munich head coach:

"Because not only against Bayern Munich do the opposition tend to play at a higher level and are more motivated, it's also because it's the Champions League - the elite level of football."

Schweinsteiger will not be able to repeat his goal scoring feats of last year - the midfielder is absent through injury.

However, Bayern will be hopeful that they possess enough creativity to leave Switzerland with an away goal or two on Wednesday night.