Boss promises strong line-up in midweek

Breno enjoyed a taste of the Allianz Arena atmosphere on Saturday, as the Brazilian was part of the 18-strong matchday squad for the 2-0 victory against Karlsruher SC. However, the newcomer was not called upon to enter the fray and spent his afternoon on the bench, or warming up behind Oliver Kahn’s goal.

Things will be different on Wednesday when the youngster will make his first-team debut for his new club. “Breno will definitely play from the start,” coach Ottmar Hitzfeld confirmed as Bayern began preparing for the UEFA Cup Round of 16 return against RSC Anderlecht.

Kroos also likely to start

Bayern lead 5-0 from the first leg in Brussels last week, and are effectively through to the last eight barring an upset of monstrous proportions. Hitzfeld is planning to continue his rotation policy, “but I can’t yet say what the line-up will be,” the coach remarked, although he hinted at a start for Toni Kroos.

Breno and Kroos will likely be joined by Lukas Podolski and Willy Sagnol, both rested at home to Karlsruhe after featuring against Anderlecht. Podolski is standing by to replace the suspended Luca Toni, while Mark van Bommel is eligible for the match despite a Bundesliga ban. Andreas Ottl, who played alongside Van Bommel in defensive midfield against the Belgians, could well repeat the role in midweek.

Zé still absent

Breno’s fellow countryman Zé Roberto remains doubtful. The midfielder last featured in the Bundesliga nine days ago, but has been unable to train since then with a severe dose of the flu. It is also possible that Michael Rensing may again deputise for Oliver Kahn, as he did last Thursday.

With an eye on next Saturday’s tricky away trip to relegation strugglers Energie Cottbus, Hitzfeld may opt to rest a few more of his regulars. However, the Bayern coach will not send out a ‘B-team’: “The 60,000 crowd have a right to watch a decent side,“ he declared. Some 61,000 tickets for the match had been sold by Monday afternoon.