Late win buoys Bayern for Arsenal clash — Ancelotti
BERLIN: Carlo Ancelotti says Bayern Munich’s 2-0 win over Ingolstadt, with last-minute goals from Arturo Vidal and Arjen Robben, was the perfect confidencebooster for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Arsenal.
The Gunners are the guests at Munich’s Allianz Arena in what Robben has described as Bayern’s ‘week of truth’ after the German league leaders have struggled for form with lacklustre performances in recent weeks.
Vidal broke the deadlock by ghosting in behind the Ingolstadt defence and put his side ahead on 90 minutes.
Robben netted just 60 seconds later to seal victory in the Bavaria derby.
“It was an important win for us and gives us a lot of self-confidence for Wednesday,” said Bayern boss Ancelotti.
“We had to give everything, we did give everything and we’re happy with the result.
“We have to show the same character and mentality against Arsenal. That will be the key.”
Their quest for a fifth straight Bundesliga title this season was helped on Saturday as their main rivals — RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund — all lost to leave Bayern seven points clear.
They had over 70 percent possession on Saturday and deserved the win over second-from-bottom Ingolstadt after Robert Lewandowski hit the crossbar late on and had a first-half effort cleared off the line.
Bayern are not in form, as highlighted by last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Schalke after laboured 2-1 wins at Freiburg and Werder Bremen in January, but chairman KarlHeinz Rummenigge says there is reason for optimism.
“There is no need to be pessimistic. We have seen the team can step it up at the right moment,” said Rummenigge.
Bayern are on a record 15-match winning streak and know they must take a good result from the first leg in Munich to the return in London on March 7.
“We have to win, ideally keep them to zero, so that we have a bit of a cushion for the second game in London. That would be nice,” added Rummenigge.
Bayern only showed their mettle in the dying stages, when it mattered most, but there is no disguising the lack of tempo, ideas and movement.
“Everyone saw that it was very, very difficult to raise our passing game,” admitted captain Philipp Lahm.
“We knew it would be a tough game, decided by the one-on-ones.
“’Lewy’ could have put us in the lead in the second half, but when you create a goal so late, you have to be happy.”
Meanwhile Leipzig will be without striker Yussuf Poulsen for an estimated six weeks after the 22-year-old suffered a muscle injury in their 3-0 loss to Hamburg SV on Saturday, the club said.
The Dane, who has scored once this season and has started almost every league game in their incredible rise to second in the standings, had come on in the 31st minute with Leipzig 2-0 down.
He was forced off only 12 minutes later with a thigh muscle injury.