Bayern wait on star man Ribery

24 March 2010 15:56
ayern Munich's star man Franck Ribery is tonight being lined up to prove he's fit to face United in the Champions League quarter-final first leg next Tuesday. Ribery is Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal's key midfielder and has been absent from the German Bundesliga leader's side for the last two matches with an ankle injury. The 26-year-old French international suffered the problem in the last 16 tie in Italy against Fiorentina. Though Bayern won their next match without him last weekend, the Reds' opponents had a setback in their title pursuit when they lost at Frankfurt. Ironically, in a repeat of the 1999 Champions League final against United, Bayern lost at the weekend after leading 1-0 with only minutes to go. Two goals from Frankfurt in 104 seconds overturned their lead and ended a 19-match unbeaten run in the Bundesliga. But tonight in the German Cup semi-final against Schalke in Gelsenkirchen Ribery is expected to confirm his fitness for United's visit next week. Munich have fought tooth and nail for two seasons to keep Ribery at the club. He was rated in the £50m bracket last summer with United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid all said to be keen on signing him. Bayern stood firm but could lose him this close season. The Reds may still be in the queue but the success of wide wing men like Ji-sung Park, Antonio Valencia and Nani is likely to have demoted him on Sir Alex Ferguson's priority list. United fly to Germany on Monday morning. Normally the squad fly back straight after the match but they will return instead on Wednesday. Van Gaal is targeting a treble for his side, saying: "I think the league title is our priority but we want to win the cup, too, and the Champions League."

Source: Manchester_EveningNews