Luis Figo is confident Real Madrid can overcome their 1-0 first-leg deficit to defeat German club Bayern Munich in tonight's Champions League semi-final second-leg match in Munich.
The Spaniards are bidding to mete out the same treatment to Bayern as last season when the German side were bounced out of the competition at the same stage by Real, who went on to win the final.
This time around Real are the underdogs after a series of poor results including a surprise 3-0 defeat at the weekend to league rivals Celta Vigo.
But Portuguese play-maker Figo remains confident of their ability to successfully defend their title. "I've got a very strong feeling we're going to beat Bayern by a clear margin. I'm very, very optimistic," said Figo.
His feelings were echoed by star striker Raul, who should shake off a knock he picked up during the Celta Vigo defeat, to line out in Munich. "We'll just have to do something really great, maybe all the goals we haven't scored will come on Wednesday," he said. "It's a great opportunity to prove the statistics wrong," added Raul, referring to Madrid's five failed outings at the Munich Olympic stadium.
Bayern haven't won the European Cup since 1976 and will have to hold firm against Real without inspirational captain Stefan Effenberg, suspended after picking up his fifth yellow of the campaign in Madrid.
Mehmet Scholl is coach Ottmar Hitzfeld's main doubt. "I'm very, very doubtful for the match, I'm worried sick," said the attacking midfielder who has a ligament and ankle problem.
If Real reach the final they will become only the second club in the 46-year history of European soccer's premier competition to do so after losing 1-0 at home in the first leg of the semi-finals.
Ajax Amsterdam, who lost 1-0 at home to Panathinaikos in 1996, won the away leg 3-0 to reach the final where they lost to Juventus on penalties.
Hitzfeld is expected to choose Swiss international Ciriaco Sforza to replace Effenberg. "We've won a number of times this season when we've had to play without Stefan," the Bayern coach pointed out. "Everyone 's just going to have to give 10 per cent more effort," he added.
In the only change from the Real team that played in the first leg, coach Vicente Del Bosque looks certain to use Fernando Morientes to partner Champions League top scorer Raul up front as they go in search of the all-important away goal.
The Real centre forward decided to forego surgery on a persistent groin injury in order to help out his team-mates and trained on Monday.
Probable Teams Bayern Munich: Kahn; Kuffour, Andersson, Linke; Sagnol, Jeremies, Sforza, Lizarazu; Salihamidzic, Elber, Jancker.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Salgado, Karanka, Hierro, Carlos; Helguera, Makelele, Figo, McManaman; Raul, Morientes.
Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)
