Munich: Bayern Munich will have a distinct advantage going into its Champions League semifinal against Lyon — the German team was spared a long journey. Bayern has its own distraction, however, and sought to deflect uncomfortable questions about star winger Franck Ribery.
Lyon took a two-day trip in several minivans to Munich because of the air traffic disruptions caused by volcanic ash from Iceland.
"I think it's bothersome before a match like this," Bayern defender Philipp Lahm said. "But on the day of the match you are so full of adrenaline, you won't think about it.
But Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris dismissed the long voyage as a possible excuse.
"We have to look at it positively, put it behind us. We arrived with a lot of enthusiasm and we are eager for the semifinal," Lloris said. "Bayern is a big club but no matter who the opponent is our goal is to go as far as possible. They have individuals who can make the difference but we have to draw on our own qualities."
Lyon coach Claude Puel took a humorous approach to the long trip that began with an overnight bus ride after a league game in Bordeaux.
"We got to see a lot of interesting landscape in both France and Germany," he said.
Bayern has had a different distraction, with France international Ribery providing testimony for investigators probing a suspected prostitution ring believed to have operated out of a Paris nightclub.
Sophie Bottai, Ribery's lawyer, says no charges were filed against him and that he was not held in police custody.
Bayern effectively clamped down on the subject, leaving Ribery out of the news conference Tuesday although he had been scheduled to appear, and telling other players not to discuss the subject with reporters.
"You can ask but we won't answer," Bayern spokesman Markus Hoerwick said at the news conference. "We have a very important game tomorrow and a great goal and we want to concentrate on that."
Daniel van Buyten, Bayern's French-speaking Belgian defender, fended off questions from French reporters by saying Ribery practiced "very well" Tuesday.
"He's very motivated and very happy to be playing in the semifinals. He's invested a lot in this season and he wants to finish strongly," Van Buyten said, adding that the club's press chief had told players not to discuss anything else about Ribery.
Lyon has seven players with yellow cards who could miss the return leg with another booking. bayern has only one.
"There will be no calculating or pulling back. If someone gets suspended so be it," Puel.
After ousting Manchester United in the quarterfinals, Bayern is in the last four for the first time since it won the title in 2001.
While Lyon had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Bordeaux in the domestic league, Bayern romped to a 7-0 rout of Hannover at home. Bayern is on course for a treble. It is two points ahead of Schalke in the Bundesliga and it is also in the German Cup final, while seeking its fifth Champions League title.
"Semifinals are usually balanced. I think they have respect for us, they know we can always score, but they are also very strong. We are in very good form, though.
"We will try not to concede a goal. 1-0 would be good, 2-0 would be better and a win always better than a draw," Lahm said.
Another distraction for Bayern was the absence of coach Louis van Gaal on the day before the match. He went home to the Netherlands to attend the funeral of his mother-in-law and faced a long drive back to Munich.
Assistant coach Andries Jonker conducted Bayern's practice and said all players trained well and were available for the match, except suspended captain Mark van Bommel.
"But we've played well without him before," he said. "Lyon is a good team that beat Liverpool, Real Madrid and won consecutive titles at home. They defend aggressively and have strong dribblers."
Van Buyten said Lyon will be highly motivated by its first semifinal appearance.
"Maybe they have neglected the domestic championship to concentrate on the Champions League. We've been here before and we want to go all the way," Van Buyten said.
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