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Fiorentina needs win over Bayern in Champs League

Cesare Prandelli’s side lost the first leg in Germany 2-1, and has won just one of its last nine Serie A matches. The team has also gone 17 games since its last clean sheet.

“We have to get our energy back as soon as possible,” midfielder Riccardo Montolivio said. “It is a match in which we can make history and we have to give everything for it.”

On Saturday, Fiorentina was beaten 2-1 by an uninspired Juventus team, and the squad appears to have been distracted by speculation that Prandelli will take over from Marcello Lippi as Italy coach after the World Cup.

“We have to forget about what has happened until now and concentrate on this match,” Montolivio said. “We have to forget about the loss to Juventus and concentrate solely on this game with Munich. Bayern has a truly good team and won’t underestimate us.”

By contrast, Munich goes into the match unbeaten in 18 matches, although it was held to a 1-1 draw at Cologne on Saturday, needing Bastian Schweinsteiger to score a second-half equalizer to salvage a point for the Bundesliga leader.

Schweinsteiger, a product of Munich’s youth system, has quickly becoming a centerpiece of the side and is a certain starter for Germany at the World Cup.

“Bastian is an outstanding player, one of the best in Germany,” captain Mark Van Bommel said. “He has the ability, and he’s showing it now. The coach has got every player knowing exactly what to do in his position. Bastian’s benefiting hugely from that.”

However, Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal has problems in defense where central defender Martin Demichelis is out after fracturing his face in three places during Argentina’s 1-0 win over Germany. Left back Diego Contento also gashed his knee against Cologne and requires stitches.

There is better news for the Dutchman in that his star wingers are likely to be able to play. Compatriot Arjen Robben will be back after missing the trip to Cologne with a cold and Frank Ribery is likely to start after playing the last 30 minutes Saturday having taken a knock during France’s 2-0 loss to Spain.