Saving face

Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer described the first half of the game in Barcelona, when Lionel Messi scored twice and Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o also got on the scoresheet, as the worst half of football he had ever seen played by a Bayern team.

There were calls in some quarters for the dismissal of coach Jurgen Klinsmann but the pressure on the former Germany boss has abated somewhat in the wake of a 4-0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga at the weekend.

On Tuesday, the team will be playing mostly for pride.

"We are not going to beat them by four goals, that's clear to us," said Klinsmann. "However, we will show that we have integrity and character and do our best to give the people a Champions League game."

Klinsmann admitted the defeat had been a blow for him but said he never thought of quitting his post.

"I've had extreme moments before. Three months before the World Cup, we went down 4-1 to Italy and then went on to have a summer fairy tale," said the 44-year-old in reference to Germany's run to the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup on home soil.

Klinsi: 'I will see this through'

However, chants calling for Klinsmann's removal could be heard from the stands during Bayern's victory over Frankfurt. The coach said they would not affect him.

"We are putting everything into Bayern every day and I am going to see this through," said Klinsmann.

Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola, who will have to watch his 50th competitive game in charge of the Catalan giants from the stands of the Allianz Arena after being sent off in the first leg, is expected to rest several key players against the German champions.

Messi and Henry, who tormented Bayern a week ago, are expected to start on the bench while defender Rafael Marquez is expected to remain in Barcelona after picking up a yellow card in the first leg.

As well as performing strongly in Europe, Barca currently top the Primera Liga and maintained their six-point lead over Real Madrid with a 2-0 victory over Recreativo de Huelva on Saturday. They are also still in the Spanish cup.

"We are close to three titles and don't want to let any of them escape us," said playmaker Xavi.

Captain says Ribery should go

Meanwhile Bayern Munich's French midfielder Franck Ribery has been told by his own captain that he should join Barcelona next season.

"Franck wants to play for Barcelona," Bayern skipper Mark van Bommel told Spain's RAC-1 radio on Monday, in comments that will hardly go down well with the Bayern board, who are desperate to hold on to their prize asset.

"More than that, I think it would be a good thing if Barca buys him, he would adapt easily," said the Dutchman, who won a Champions League title with Barcelona in 2006.