SPAIN: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Bayern Munich training ahead of their Champions League match at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid

Wounded giants Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are hoping a return to the European stage in their last 16 Champions League showdown at the Bernabeu on Tuesday (February 20) will spark a revival in their ailing fortunes. The two continental heavyweights have failed to live up to their billing this season with a series of poor performances in their respective domestic leagues and are in urgent need of a shot in the arm. A faltering Bayern lie fourth in the Bundesliga after a 1-0 defeat to Alemannia Aachen, their second defeat in three games since the return of Ottmar Hitzfeld as coach. European competition tends to bring the best out of two old foes who between them have won the continent's most prized trophy 13 times. Bayern have the edge on the head-to-head record having won on nine of the 16 occasions on which the two teams have met in Europe, but Real have knocked the Germans out twice in the last five seasons. Bayern's league season went from bad to worse on Saturday as they suffered their second defeat in three games since the return of Hitzfeld to replace Felix Magath. Once again Bayern were devoid of ideas in attack and nervous in defence in the defeat at Aachen and Hitzfeld has been left to pin his hopes on a change of competition bringing a change in attitude. Midfielder Owen Hargreaves missed the Aachen game because of illness but he stands a chance of returning to the team on Tuesday. Lukas Podolski came off the bench and the striker should win promotion to the starting line-up alongside Roy Makaay.

ITN Source | February 21, 2007

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