Bale ready for Bayern clash

28 April 2014 19:31

Gareth Bale insists he is fit and raring to go ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final second-leg clash at Bayern Munich.

Madrid take a 1-0 lead to the Allianz Arena after Karim Benzema's goal decided the first meeting.

Bale only came on 17 minutes from the end of that match after struggling with illness in the build-up and he missed the weekend win over Osasuna, but the Welshman said he was ready to take on the German giants on Tuesday.

"I feel good," he said. "After a couple of workouts I'm recovered and I hope to play tomorrow.

"We are happy with the situation we are in. We will concentrate on the remaining games and try to win. When you arrive at this club you realise there are expectations.

"We want to win everything we play for and try to win the Champions League."

Madrid are now favourites to lift the trophy after shutting out Pep Guardiola's side in the first meeting, the visitors creating few chances despite dominating possession, but Bale knows the hard work is far from over.

Bayern after all hit five in the Bundesliga at the weekend.

" It will be a very difficult match against Bayern," the former Tottenham player said. "It will be a great battle, a tough, tough game.

"The match will be tight and there will be little between the teams. We hope to do our job, but it will be a fantastic game and we are 100 percent ready.

"I prefer to play offensively, but we will have to know how to defend."

Boss Carlo Ancelotti is chasing a treble in his first season in charge at the Bernabeu, with his side having already beaten Barcelona to the Copa del Rey crown - thanks to a wonder goal from Bale - and lying third in La Liga.

But the Italian knows a place in the Champions League final in Lisbon is still far from certain.

"I think no one is so shallow to think that we have already won," he said. "Tomorrow's game is very complicated.

"We play against a great team and we have a small advantage from the first leg, but we need to enjoy it. We are not so foolish to think that we have already won."

Madrid are set to have Cristiano Ronaldo fit for the clash. The Portugal forward lacked match sharpness in the first meeting as he returned from injury and came off for Bale.

Source: PA