May 01, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 24, 1429

LONDON, April 30: After coming back from the brink of elimination in the previous round of the UEFA Cup, Bayern Munich is far from intimidated by Thursday’s semi-final trip to Zenit St. Petersburg.

Zenit has a crucial away goal after a 1-1 draw in last week’s first leg, but the German powerhouse is confident of reaching next month’s final against Fiorentina or Rangers.

And the four-time Champions League winner has more than one reason for its bullish attitude.

Bayern is one point away from regaining the German league title and has already won its national cup. It also proved its mettle in Europe when it scored three late goals to avoid defeat at Getafe in the UEFA Cup quarterfinals, and has goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn and defender Philipp Lahm fit to play on Thursday after recovering from injuries.

“I am convinced that we’ll make it,” defender Martin Demichelis said. “They couldn’t finish us off in Getafe, so what can happen now?”

Bayern’s escape against the Spanish side this month would have been enough to make any team feel invincible.

After a 1-1 draw in Germany, Bayern was trailing 1-0 in Spain and facing a shock exit until winger Frank Ribery scored with just a minute left to take the game into extra time.

Getafe then scored twice in the first three minutes of the extra period to put Bayern on the ropes, but the visitors fought back again, and two goals in the final five minutes from Luca Toni put the Bundesliga side through on away goals.

But last week’s 1-1 draw with Zenit, when Toni was suspended and Lucio scored an own-goal to equalize Ribery’s 18th-minute opener, has left Bayern needing to do it the hard way all over again.

“The players really want to reach the final badly,” general manager Uli Hoeness said. “We are not in a great situation as far as the result is concerned, but the morale is intact and that can be decisive.”

Toni, who has 36 goals in 42 games for Bayern this season including a tournament-high 10 in the UEFA Cup, will be back. Kahn injured his thigh in the first leg but had a full practice on Tuesday, while coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said Lahm has got over his groin problem.

“We are totally self-confident,” said striker Miroslav Klose, who still has black eyes following a nose fracture. “We are going to Russia to win.”

Zenit, though, is led by former Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat and beat another German side, Bayer Leverkusen, in the previous round.

The only side left in the competition never to have won a European trophy, Zenit is determined to make its first semifinal appearance count with a tough defensive performance. If Zenit can stop Bayern, the 1996 champion, from scoring, it will be in the May 14 final in Manchester.

“Bayern will play more aggressive football than at home so we will have to be extraordinarily focussed in defense,” Zenit captain Anatoly Timoshchuk said. “We can’t concede a goal.”

But playmaker Andrei Arshavin, defender Fernando Ricksen and midfielder Radek Sirl are all suspended after yellow cards in the first leg, depriving Zenit of flair, and forcing a reshuffle in defense.

Arshavin is likely to be replaced by Alejandro Dominguez, although Advocaat plans to reveal his lineup only on match day.

Rangers also failed to make home advantage count in its first leg against Fiorentina.

The teams drew 0-0 in Glasgow, although Rangers can take comfort from the fact that it managed to win 2-0 at Sporting Lisbon in the last round after a scoreless first leg.

But the Scottish team’s preparations for the match at Stadio Artemio Franchi have been hit by a groin injury to veteran defender David Weir, who was hurt in Sunday’s 3-2 loss at fierce city rival Celtic.

“The injury is not as bad as first feared, but I don’t think he has much chance at all of playing on Thursday,” manager Walter Smith said.

Allan McGregor, Lee McCulloch, Chris Burke, Steven Naismith and Charlie Adam are also set to miss out because of injury.

Christian Dailly is likely to partner Carlos Cuellar in central defense.—AP