Bayern out to brush aside injury worries

Injury-hit Bayern Munich heads to Porto for Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg minus a host of stars but determined to boost its bid to reach a fourth straight European semifinal.

Pep Guardiola's Bayern last failed to reach the last four in Europe in 2011 and, having lifted the European title five times, the 2013 Champions League winner has won 16 of its 25 matches at this stage.

But rarely has the star-studded Bavarian giant been so hamstrung by injuries.

Leftback David Alaba, centerback Medhi Benatia, midfielder Javi Martinez and right winger Arjen Robben are all missing.

To compound matters, left winger Franck Ribery and defensive midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger were ruled out on Monday with an ankle injury and 'flu respectively.

Bayern has Spain veteran Xabi Alonso back after serving a one-match ban, while Germany defender Jerome Boateng and striker Claudio Pizarro are back after injury.

Even missing their top stars, Bayern still managed to dominate Eintracht Frankfurt in Saturday's 3-0 league win at Munich's Allianz Arena to keep it 10 points clear in the Bundesliga.

Robert Lewandowski scored twice to give him nine goals in his past eight league games and has taken over from Robben as the club's top scorer in all competitions.

Guardiola has said there is no point Bayern ruing its misfortune while director of sport Matthias Sammer said the Germans' title hunger will carry them through as they chase the treble of European, cup and league titles.

"There is a chance that this small but high-quality group can develop a lot of strength and dynamic," said Sammer.

"It's well known that this team is hungry."

Bayern has won six of its past 10 Champions League away matches including a 7-1 win at AS Roma in the group stage.

Even shorn of fleet-footed wingers Robben and Ribery, plus midfield general Schweinsteiger, Bayern can still name five World Cup winners at the Estadio do Dragao.

"We know that we can rely on whichever team plays," said Thomas Mueller.

"It'll be a close match, I assume we won't win 5-0, but we must make sure we come home with a good result."

A punishing schedule of a game every three or four days is being seen as a positive in the Bayern camp.

"It's nothing to do with the team's substance, it's the most beautiful rhythm in the world," said Sammer.

"The players would rather play games than train."

Host FC Porto has its own share of injury woes with Colombia striker Jackson Martinez doubtful with a groin injury after scoring 26 goals in all competitions.

Likewise, forward Christian Tello is missing having torn his right thigh before Porto's heavy league defeat to Estoril on April 6.

Its 3-1 win at Rio Ave on Saturday left Porto second in Portugal's top flight, three points behind leader Benfica, as Ricardo Quaresma, Real Madrid-bound rightback Danilo and forward Hernani all netted.