MX23RW : Wednesday, December 25 14:48:48| >> :120:76260:76260:
[monks data]
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 5, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Bayern logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Mandzukic (65')

Pep Guardiola praises "excellent" Bastian Schweinsteiger

Bayern Munich midfielder Pep Guardiola praises the contribution of Bastian Schweinsteiger ahead of their bid to earn a ninth successive Champions League win.

Bayern Munich manager Bastian Schweinsteiger has admitted that his side are acutely aware of the chance to equal a Champions League record, while picking out midfield linchpin Bastian Schweinsteiger for special praise.

The Bavarians will match Barcelona's tally of nine successive wins in the competition with victory over Viktoria Plzen tonight, while also guaranteeing their place in the last 16.

Guardiola believes that Schweinsteiger has been crucial to Bayern's fine start to the campaign, which has seen them stay unbeaten in 11 Bundesliga matches.

Ahead of tonight's clash with Plzen the Spaniard told UEFA.com: "Every game in the Champions League is dangerous because every opponent you come up against in this competition has experience.

"Bastian Schweinsteiger has helped the team a lot recently because he is in excellent shape. In the last game, against Hoffenheim, he played really well, I was very satisfied with him. He is improving a lot but has problems with his ankle.

"It is always a challenge if you can break a record and you always make the effort to. We know about it [the chance to equal the competition's longest winning sequence], but we will put this to one side when we go on to the pitch. It is a bit more motivation for us, it is in my mind a bit, but we have to concentrate on the game itself. We hope to win it."

Bayern thrashed Plzen 5-0 in their first meeting with Plzen two weeks ago, but are without Arjen Robben for tonight's trip to the Czech Republic through injury.

ID:115972: cacheID:115972:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2759:
Written by
Liam Power
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Vitoria Plzen's David Limbersky and Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League group D match on October 23, 2013
Read Next:
Preview: Plzen vs. Bayern
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!