Hoffenheim vs Bayern Munich - Ancelotti expects Neuer to be fit for Bayern's showdown with Real

Posted Monday, April 03, 2017 by PA

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is certain to be fit for next week's Champions League blockbuster against Real Madrid, according to boss Carlo Ancelotti.

The Germany international is returning to fitness after undergoing a minor operation on his left foot and will again be missing for Tuesday's trip to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.

The runaway leaders then host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday before the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at home to Real the following Wednesday.

The absence of a man widely regarded as the world's best keeper would be a major blow for Bayern, but Ancelotti dismissed that possibility.

The former Madrid boss said Neuer had "no problems any more", adding on the Bayern website: "He's 100 per cent certain to be in goal against Real."

The Italian also vowed Thomas Muller would be fit for the Real clash, having been ruled out of the Hoffenheim meeting with an ankle knock suffered in Saturday's 6-0 thrashing of Augsburg.

"He needs a two-day break," Ancelotti said of Muller.

"We'll have to see whether he'll be fit to face Dortmund. We're certain he'll be ready to play again when we face Real."

Bayern will rest Thiago against Hoffenheim, with Javi Martinez and Xabi Alonso both returning from suspension.

Bayern go into the clash 13 points clear at the top of the table, although third-placed Hoffenheim are also enjoying an impressive campaign and have lost just twice in the league all season.

The meeting at the Allianz Arena earlier in the season ended 1-1 and Ancelotti is not expecting his team to again dish out the sort of thrashing they handed to Augsburg.

"Hoffenheim are a very good team," he said. "They are playing very well at the moment, they are one of the best teams in the Bundesliga.

"They are dangerous, very good defensively and in attack. We are expecting an intensive game."

Hoffenheim have a 100 per cent record at home since the turn of the year, but boss Julian Nagelsmann knows in-form Bayern are the side best equipped to end that run.

"The frightening thing about Bayern at the moment is that Carlo Ancelotti predicted this at the start of the season - that they would have a few problems in the first half of the season, but would turn up the heat in March and April," he said on the club website.

"They played well against Augsburg and scored some good goals. They won't want to end their run on Tuesday and all of their players are world class so it doesn't matter if they rotate.

"Rotation at Bayern has a different meaning to rotation at other Bundesliga clubs."