Kahn expects crowd to provide edge

FC Bayern München captain Oliver Kahn is confident his side can give the Fußball Arena München a night to remember as the German giants look to overturn Real Madrid CF's 3-2 first-leg lead and book a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

'Electric atmosphere'
Bayern have played seven home matches in this competition since moving from the Olympiastadion in summer 2005. As yet, the period has served as a mere footnote in the rich history of the four-time European champions, so Kahn believes it is time to write a new chapter. "It's a very young stadium, without many big matches to date," said the 37-year-old. "There will be an electric atmosphere against Madrid, though, and the fans will really get behind us. I hope we can make it a great evening of football."

'Real progress'
There has not been much to celebrate for the red half of Munich this season, with their domestic dominance severely questioned. Out of the German Cup, they lie fourth in the Bundesliga yet Ottmar Hitzfeld's team are arguably on the up, having closed to within six points of the summit with victory at Hertha BSC Berlin on Saturday. "We are on the right track," Kahn insisted. "We had our problems but Hitzfeld has made some real progress. There's still some way to go but we are in good shape.

'I'm confident'
"In this team everyone tries to help each other. Hitzfeld encourages us to be cohesive and support each other - it gives us an extra 20 per cent." Such an advantage could be crucial after Madrid edged a tight game at the Santiago Bernabéu a fortnight ago, Mark van Bommel's late strike raising Bayern hopes that had been dwindling with the score at 3-1. "Our second goal made the scoreline a fair reflection of the game," said Kahn. "There's not much difference between the sides but Bayern are much stronger at home so I'm confident."

Kahn hunger
That optimism is well founded as Bayern scored five goals at the Fußball Arena München in the group stage, and did not concede until Patrick Vieira's added-time equaliser for FC Internazionale Milano on Matchday 6. Kahn was making his 100th UEFA Champions League appearance that night but personal achievement provided no consolation, and that hunger shows no signs of abating. Asked whether he was determined ahead of Madrid's visit, he curtly responded: "Determined? I'm always determined."