Zürich retain belief against wary Bayern

Two goals to the good after the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie against FC Zürich, FC Bayern München's squad are scarcely prepared even to entertain the notion of not completing the job on Tuesday.

The Bundesliga side's advantage came courtesy of goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben in Munich last week. They could perhaps have opened up an even bigger gap, but must nevertheless be considered as overwhelming favourites.

Zürich's domestic form – they are seventh in the Swiss Super League following a 2-0 defeat by second-bottom Neuchâtel Xamax FC on Saturday – has done little to generate optimism that an upset is on the cards. Not everyone is resigned to defeat just yet, however.

"There is still a chance and we will believe in it," said coach Urs Fischer, whose mission is "making the impossible possible". He added: "We did that very well in Munich and made their life hard in the first half." Striker Admir Mehmedi is a fellow believer. "We only have to make up two goals, everything is still open," he said.

What of Bayern, third in the Bundesliga and brimming with confidence having beaten Hamburger SV 5-0 at the weekend? "The team is hungry, they want to go through to the group stage of the Champions League," said coach Jupp Heynckes.

"We take this match very seriously. At home, they will play much braver and attacking football. We must not allow them to do so. There is one thing you must not do in European football – underestimate an opponent. We will not do that. We will play our best team available."

Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben, both on the mark against Hamburg, look certain to be in that selection having returned to fitness to provide a fresh spark for the Bayern attack. For Schweinsteiger, his side's current momentum bodes well for an away goal.

"It would be good to take the lead," said the Germany midfielder. "Zürich will try everything, with the backing of their fans. They will not give up and will want to make up the 2-0 deficit. One thing is certain – it will not be 3-0 to FC Zürich."

Mario Gomez, who scored his first league goal of the season against Hamburg, is keen to adopt a slightly different mindset. "We do not want to concede a goal, then we are in the Champions League," he said. "This is our main goal. We must not think that we will now beat Zürich 5-0 or 6-0. We just have to go there, not concede, go into the Champions League and go home. That's all."