Bayern's Boateng targets Champions League return
FC Bayern München centre-half Jerome Boateng has stated his intention to be fit in time for a potential UEFA Champions League semi-final match-up on 26 April.
Gallery: click here for the best images from Bayern's triumph over Juventus
The FIFA World Cup-winner has been out since Matchday 18’s 2-1 win at Hamburger SV, when he picked up a groin injury 56 minutes into proceedings at the Volksparkstadion. Boateng, 27, had featured in each of Bayern's previous 17 top-flight games, including 15 times as a starter.
Following a positive MRI scan, however, Boateng has upped his training to two days per week and expects to be back in action next month. "Clearly I want to play as soon as possible, but I will not promise anything," he said. "I can't not overdo it, but I hope that if we make it to the semi-finals [of the Champions League] I can help again."
Boating: 'very emotional'
Playercard: click here for Boateng's season stats
Pep Guardiola's side have kept winning in his absence, though, with last Wednesday's 4-2 victory over Juventus FC after extra time ensuring a 6-4 aggregate triumph and a quarter-final meeting with Portuguese champions SL Benfica in Europe's top-tier competition.
"Fortunately, everything went well, but it was all very, very emotional," said Boateng. "Of course I was jumping up and down. It was an amazing atmosphere in the stadium."
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