Berlin--Thomas Mueller says injury-hit holders Bayern Munich must show some 'balls' at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday for a place in the German Cup's semi-finals without latest casualty Bastian Schweinsteiger.
With the Munich giants ten points clear in the Bundesliga and fourth-placed Bayer on course for a Champions League place next season, the clash at Leverkusen's BayArena is the stand-out tie of the quarter-finals.
"You need to have some balls for that, it's the cup quarter-finals, there is definitely a bit of spice in this one," said Germany forward Mueller in his own unique style.
Bayern have a lengthy injury list with wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, plus left-back David Alaba out of the cup quarter-final with long-term ailments.
Defensive midfielder and Germany captain Schweinsteiger is also out after limping off in Saturday's 1-0 win against Dortmund with an ankle injury.
"He is definitely not going to play," insisted Bayern coach Pep Guardiola on Tuesday.
Leverkusen will be without South Korea striker Son Heung-Min, who is still suspended after being sent off in their extra-time win over minnows Madgeburg in the second round.
Bayer warmed up with a 4-0 rout of relegation-threatened Hamburg at home last Saturday while Bayern ground out a win in Dortmund with an untypically defensive display.
"The chance to beat Bayern at home is greater than in an away match or in a final," said Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi Voeller.
"Bayern are in a different class to Hamburg and we'll have to put in a sensational performance."
Bayern remain the team to beat, according to Leverkusen's former striker Stefan Kiessling, as Leverkusen bid to repeat their 2009 cup quarter-final win over Bayern when Kiessling scored in a 4-2 home win.
AFP
