Bayern braced for onslaught

Bayern Munich midfielders Thomas Mueller (L) and Bastian Schweinsteiger give a press conference at a hotel in Barcelona yesterday on the eve of their Champions League semifinal. Photo: AFP

Bayern Munich are anticipating Barcelona's bid to overturn their 4-0 deficit to be led by an inspired Lionel Messi rather than the subdued version that turned up in last week's semifinal, first leg.
Bayern take on the Catalan giants at the Camp Nou in Wednesday's Champions League second leg with one foot in the final after the drubbing meted out to Messi and his men in Munich.
World Footballer of the year Messi produced an uncharacteristic limp performance in Munich, but Bayern striker Thomas Mueller believes the Argentine star will be back to his brilliant best on Wednesday.
"In the first leg we barely saw him," reflected Mueller, who scored twice and set up a third in the surprisingly lopsided first leg.
"That was down to us even if we know he was limited with an injury.
"We are going to see another Messi on Wednesday, even if we hope we don't. I think we'll have more work to do with him than the last time.
"Messi is a talisman for them. He's a player who scores 50 goals in the season."
"We opened the door (to the final) but we haven't gone through it yet," cautioned midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger at the eve-of-match press conference on Tuesday.