Blanc calls for Bordeaux resolve

Lying third in Group A after suffering a 2-1 defeat at FC Girondins de Bordeaux last time out, FC Bayern München are in desperate need of a home victory over the same opponents to lift themselves back into the qualification mix. Louis van Gaal's side are hardly setting the Bundesliga alight either, but the Dutch trainer has urged his players to draw strength from the club's rich heritage, saying: "It's a kind of tradition here in Munich to win the really important games." In contrast, section leaders Bordeaux are still forging their reputation and Laurent Blanc hopes his players can earn even more respect with a positive result at the Fußball Arena München.

Louis van Gaal, Bayern coach
We are FC Bayern München, a club which always has to win – unfortunately this is not always possible. But it is absolutely a must if we want to reach the first knockout round. I would be happy if this time eleven players could finish the game – then we would have a good chance to win. We saw it in Bordeaux when we played the second half with ten and later on just with nine players but still had our chances to draw. In the second half, we were at least on a par. And, who knows, perhaps Les Girondins will do the same favour for us that we did for them two weeks ago: push us to produce our best. And we should never forget: it's a kind of tradition here in Munich to win the really important games.

Laurent Blanc, Bordeaux coach
It is an important game for both teams but our situation is much more comfortable with seven points. Bayern are under pressure, but we must not relax and think we have already won anything – that would be completely the wrong way to approach it. We will do as we did two weeks ago. We want to win here. Of course we're in a good position and we are confident. On the other hand, we have to expect strong opponents, especially in the first minutes when Bayern will attack and try to score an early goal. I know Louis van Gaal trusts his team and its strength and we will not show a lack of respect. It's a good thing to get more respect.

Weekend results
31/10/09 VfB Stuttgart 0-0 Bayern

• Mario Gómez made his first start since 22 September having been used as a substitute in Bayern's last seven matches.

31/10/09 Bordeaux 1-0 AS Monaco FC
(Planus 62)

• Marc Planus's winner, which kept Blanc's side top of Ligue 1, was the Bordeaux native's second goal in three games following his clincher against Bayern on Matchday 3.

• Nine of Bordeaux's 20 league goals this season have come from set-pieces.

Team news
Bayern
Out: Franck Ribéry (knee), Ivica Olić (calf), Breno (illness),
Christian Lell (illness)
Doubtful: Arjen Robben (knee), Edson Braafheid (ankle)
Suspended: Thomas Müller, Daniel Van Buyten
Misses next match if booked: none

Bordeaux
Out: Henrique (knee)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

Background
• Bayern dropped to third place in Group A as a result of their Matchday 3 defeat at Bordeaux who lead the section by two points from Juventus.

• The sides' first meeting could hardly have begun better for Bayern, who took a sixth-minute lead thanks to Michaël Ciani's own goal, yet the same player levelled in the 27th minute and Bayern then lost Thomas Müller to a second yellow card three minutes later. Marc Planus put Bordeaux in front in the 40th minute, and the hosts could even afford the luxury of Hans-Jörg Butt saving second-half penalties from Yoann Gourcuff and Jussiê, Bayern finishing with nine men as Daniel Van Buyten was dsmissed after conceding the second spot-kick.

• Prior to Matchday 3, the teams' only previous encounter came in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup final. Bordeaux's campaign had started out in the UEFA Intertoto Cup but their epic journey had no happy ending as Bayern ran out convincing 5-1 aggregate winners.

• Bordeaux suffered three defeats in four matches on their travels in Europe last term but picked up a 1-1 draw at Juventus in their opening away game in Group A.

Did you know?
Bayern are unbeaten in eight home games in UEFA club competition, although five of those matches were drawn, including their Matchday 2 stalemate with Juventus.