Berlin--Pep Guardiola admits Tuesday's European quarter-final, second-leg, tie against Porto is effectively a 'final' for Bayern Munich with the injury-hit Bavarians staring down the barrel of a Champions League exit.
Bayern's dream of repeating their 2013 European, league and cup treble was left in tatters last Wednesday when Ricardo Quaresma poached two early goals before captain Jackson Martinez grabbed a late third to seal Porto's 3-1 win in the first-leg at the Estadio do Dragoa.
In four previous attempts, Bayern have never over-turned a two-goal deficit in European competition and Guardiola knows his side face an uphill task at the Allianz Arena.
"This game is our final and we'll have to put in a super performance," said Bayern's head coach.
"It will be hard, but we have to try and I have a lot of trust in my players."
To compound his problems, Guardiola has eight players on the injury list which comes after team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt dramatically quit last Thursday after 40 years with Bayern, citing a deterioration of faith in the medical staff.
"We know that this is the most important game of the season," said Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
"Everyone will do everything they can so that we put in a top performance."
Bayern certainly need a tighter defensive display having fallen foul of Porto's pressing game.
All three of Porto's first-leg goals came from Bayern errors as Xabi Alonso, Dante and then Jerome Boateng were pressed into mistakes as the hosts gratefully converted their chances.
Dante clearly failed to learn his lesson as his slip nearly led to Anthony Modeste scoring for Hoffenheim in Bayern's 2-0 Bundesliga away win on Saturday.
Bayern could wrap up the German league title as early as this Saturday at home to Hertha Berlin, if other results go their way, but a quarter-final exit in Europe would cast a shadow over their season.
AFP
