OMNISPORT

Bayern Munich face a mammoth task in their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is praying for a "once in a century" display.

In last week's opening leg at Camp Nou, Bayern matched Barca for 75 minutes until Lionel Messi inspired Luis Enrique's side to a commanding 3-0 lead.

The Argentine maestro scored the opening two goals before setting up Neymar for the third in stoppage time as the Catalan giants moved to the brink of their fourth final in the past 10 seasons.

Bayern's preparation for this clash has been less than ideal, with Pepe Reina - who started in goal in place of the rested Manuel Neuer on Saturday- lasting just 13 minutes before being sent off in their 1-0 home defeat to Augsburg.

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However, already crowned Bundesliga champions, the defeat is of little consequence to Bayern, and chief executive Rummenigge is hoping his club can achieve what is seemingly an impossible task at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

"It is going to be very hard," he said. "Barcelona were the favourites in the first place and after the game that status grew. This is normal when you get this sort of result.

"But nonetheless, it is the duty of Bayern Munich to put on their best performance on Tuesday. We will see if it will be enough. Our chances are very, very small, but in football there is always one game in a century where you can turn the tides.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

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"They are rare, I know, but it is our responsibility to give all we can. If it is not enough you can't change it but you at least have to try."

Bayern's build-up to the game has also been disrupted by rumours that head coach and former Barca boss Pep Guardiola has signed a pre-contract agreement to move to Manchester City at the end of this season.

But although Bayern's hopes of a treble have been dashed by last week's defeat to Barca and a DFB-Pokal semi-final loss to Borussia Dortmund, Rummenigge believes 2014-15 will still go down as a success.

"If I was have write a report on our season so far, it would be very positive," he added.

By contrast, Barca are very much on course for the treble, with a Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao to look forward to, while Saturday's 2-0 win over Real Sociedad and Real Madrid's 2-2 draw with Valencia gave them a four-point lead at the top of La Liga with two matches remaining.

Luis Enrique's men are on a blistering run of form at just the right time, winning all of their last eight matches, scoring 28 goals and keeping seven consecutive clean sheets.

Bayern may take heart from the opening leg of the 2012-13 semi against Barca, which they won 4-0 on their way to a 7-0 aggregate success, but against a frontline of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez - who have scored 112 goals between them this season - such a repeat seems unlikely.

MATCH FACTS

• 100% of the teams that have won 3-0 in the first leg of a knockout Champions League have managed to go through.
• Bayern Munich have reached the final in four of their last five semi-finals in the Champions League.
• Bayern Munich have never been eliminated twice in a row in a CL semi-final. This could be the second consecutive season that Bayern would be eliminated by a Spanish team (Real Madrid in 2013/14 and Barcelona in 2014/15).
• If Barcelona manage to go through, they’ll reach their first CL final since 2010/11.
• Bayern Munich have lost their last three semi-final games in the CL, failing to find the net (v Real Madrid in 2013/14 and Barcelona this season).
• Bayern Munich are unbeaten in their four European home games against Barcelona (W2, D2) and have always managed to score in this run.
• Bayern Munich have beaten Barcelona 4-0 in their last home game against the Spanish side in April 2013, which would be enough for the German team to reach the final after their 0-3 loss.
• Bayern Munich have won their last five home games in the Champions League, averaging 3.8 goals per game and keeping a clean sheet four times in this run.
• Barcelona have won their last nine CL games, their best run since 2002/03 (9). The Blaugranas have scored an average of 2.6 goals per game in this run.
• Barcelona have won their last four away Champions League games, their best run since their record in the competition established in February 2012 (6).
• Bayern Munich have scored the most goals overall (30) and at home (19) in the CL 2014/15.
• Bayern Munich have conceded eight goals without scoring a single one in their last three CL games against a Spanish side (1+4 v Real Madrid last season, 3 v Barcelona in the 1st leg).
• Barcelona have hit the woodwork six times in the Champions League this season, a highest alongside Real Madrid.
• Thomas Müller is involved in three of Bayern’s last four home goals against Barcelona in the CL (2 goals, 1 assist).
• Lionel Messi is involved in six of Barcelona’s last eight goals against Bayern in the CL (4 goals, 2 assists). He’s top-scorer in the Champions League this season with 10 goals.
• Messi is also top-scorer in the Champions League overall (77 goals).
• Neymar has scored in his last three Champions League appearances for the 1st time in his career.
• Xavi could play his 150th game in the Champions League (excl. Qualifiers), more than any other outfield player.
• Manuel Neuer has conceded nine of the last 17 shots on target he has faced in the Champions League.