Bayern Munich hoping for leniency over Franck Ribery Champions League ban

Marching orders: Franck Ribery
11 April 2012

Bayern Munich are hoping UEFA will show leniency when a decision is made on Franck Ribery's red card last night.

The Frenchman was sent off in the 37th minute of the 1-0 Champions League semi-final first leg win against Lyon for a clumsy challenge on Lisandro and will face at least a one-game ban - with Bayern desperately hoping it will be no more than that.

"He didn't lunge at him with his leg," said Bayern coach Louis van Gaal. "It is a harsh red card, but you can give it.

"Franck gave the referee the chance to send him off by standing on his foot for longer than necessary. I hope he only gets banned for one match."

Ribery's team-mate Arjen Robben, who scored the winning goal in the victory, said: "It has been a tough week for him but we have got to help him because we need him.

"On Saturday we have a very important game against Borussia Monchengladbach and it could decide the title so we need him."

Ribery will be available for that game since any ban UEFA sanction will only apply to the Champions League and defender Philipp Lahm hopes he is only ruled out of the second leg at the Stade Gerland.

"If we do make it to the final, then he would deserve to be part of it," said the Germany international.

Despite Ribery's suspension for the return leg Thomas Muller is still confident that Bayern can complete the job in France.

"We have 25 men in our squad and can replace anybody," he said. "We have already seen this."

"Even when we had 10 men, it was a case of all for one and one for all. We worked and fought really hard together.

"We have shown that we can beat Lyon. If we can beat them at home, then we can also beat them away."

Lyon have had their Ligue 1 game against Monaco at the weekend postponed upon request by the French Football Federation, enabling them to focus their efforts on next Tuesday's second leg.

That, according to Rummenigge, will make up for the fact they had to endure an eight-hour coach journey to reach Munich this week.

"I don't think they were particularly tired because of the trip, but let's not forget that they now don't have a game on Saturday," added Rummenigge. That is certainly an advantage for them."

Rummenigge's opposite number Jean-Michel Aulas hopes his side can take full advantage of their weekend break.

"We need to prepare the whole city of Lyons for this match, which could send us into the final of the Champions League," he said.

"That is what is at stake and I think that the whole of Lyons and the whole of France will be behind us.

"I think we are capable of doing what must be done and we need to have the physical strength that we lacked today. We are still hopeful."

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