Thomas Muller urges referee to be strong as Bayern Munich look to overturn Real Madrid deficit

Bayern need to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit in Madrid
AFP/Getty Images

Thomas Muller has urged tonight’s referee not to be influenced by Real Madrid’s fans, fearing a repeat of the controversy that led to Bayern Munich’s exit from the Champions League at the Bernabeu last year.

For the second season in a row, Bayern head to Spain needing to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit.

They took last year’s quarter-final to extra-time but Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice from offside positions to leave Bayern fuming.

Real needed a last-minute penalty in the Bernabeu to go through to the semi-final this time, with English referee Michael Oliver’s award of a spot-kick sparking furious protests from Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Muller has called on Turkish referee, Cuneyt Cakir, to be strong this evening and said: “Everyone knows what happened here last year, with two offside Madrid goals.

“And the Juventus penalty last month … the atmosphere should not affect the officials. We will concentrate on the game because we are already under too much pressure.

“We analysed the first leg to know how to face the return. We have to take advantage of our chances, be hungry to score and to hurt Madrid.”

All three goals Real conceded against Juventus came after they failed to clear routine crosses — an issue that has troubled the defending champions.

Bayern striker Sandro Wagner said: “When we played them last year they were floundering for every cross and for every long ball, so we know what we have to do.”

Real captain Sergio Ramos could switch to right-back as a hamstring injury has put Dani Carvajal out of the match.

The centre-half said: “I can adapt. It wouldn’t be a problem for me.”

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