Injury-hit Bayern to make 'last-minute decisions' for Real Madrid semi

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich is bullish again after four wins in a row, grateful to have the chance to flip what has been a disappointing season by winning the Champions League.

The Bavarian powerhouse faces old rival Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday, when Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel is hoping his injured contingent can recover in time.

“There will be a few last-minute decisions,” Tuchel said on Monday regarding the fitness of Konrad Laimer, Matthijs de Ligt, Dayot Upamecano, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané.

Laimer and de Ligt were both injured in Bayern’s win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

Germany forward Serge Gnabry has recovered from a thigh injury and Tuchel expects him not only to play but to score against Madrid.

“I don’t know how I know, but it will happen,” Tuchel said.

In contrast to Tuchel, Real Madrid counterpart Carlo Ancelotti has no injury worries going into the game.

The Italian said Éder Militão could start again after he played the full game against Real Sociedad on Friday. It was the Brazilian defender's first start since tearing his cruciate ligament eight months ago.

Ancelotti also said midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni will play, but he wasn't sure where.

Tuchel, who is due to leave Bayern at the end of the season by mutual accord, did not address club powerbroker Uli Hoeneß’ criticism of his record on player-development.

Hoeneß told Kicker magazine on Monday that he stood by the comments. Tuchel on Saturday called them “absolutely baseless.”

Bayern’s only chance of a trophy this season remains in the Champions League after Bayer Leverkusen ended the club’s 11-year reign as Bundesliga champion, and third-division Saarbrücken terminated German Cup hopes in the second round.

“The task against Real is to get enough people in attack to hurt them, but at the same time not to be caught out," Tuchel said. “Those are very narrow margins. We have to find a good balance.”

Ancelotti later echoed his counterpart.

“We have to defend well, avoid counterattacks, and attack well,” Ancelotti said. “We’re confident. We have respect for this team. It’s true they haven’t played a fantastic season in the Bundesliga, but they were spectacular in two matches against Arsenal, a very strong team in Europe. We have to take this into account.”

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Bayern's Harry Kane arrives for a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

From left, Bayern's Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting arrive for a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, left, talks to Eder Militao during a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's Toni Kroos, center, and Brahim Diaz, left, attend a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti waits for the start of a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel listens to questions during a news conference in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's head coach Thomas Tuchel attends a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Harry Kane catches a ball during a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Leroy Sane, rear, catches a ball next to Bayern's Dayot Upamecano during a training session in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel attends a news conference in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel arrives for a news conference in Munich, Germany, Monday, April 29, 2024, ahead of the Champions League semi final first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

NEW YORK (AP) — Sen. Bob Menendez said Thursday that his wife has breast cancer and will require a mastectomy, a revelation made just as the presentation of evidence began at his New York bribery trial.

The New Jersey Democrat said he was revealing his wife's health crisis at her request after repeated inquiries from the media.

“We are, of course, concerned about the seriousness and advanced stage of the disease,” the senator said in a statement.

He added: “She will require follow up surgery and possibly radiation treatment. We hope and pray for the best results.”

Previously, lawyers for Nadine Menendez had requested her trial on charges in the case be delayed after she had been diagnosed with a serious health issue. Judge Sidney H. Stein had postponed her trial until at least July. She has pleaded not guilty. The couple began dating in 2018 and married two years later.

Menendez issued the statement in an email as opening statements were completed and the presentation of evidence began at his trial in Manhattan federal court with testimony from an FBI agent who led the raid on the Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home he shared with his wife.

The agent, Aristotelis Kougemitros, described the June 2022 raid when gold bars and more than $400,000 in cash were discovered by a team of agents at the home.

He said the agents also recovered cellphones and jewelry among 52 items seized from the home.

The senator is on trial this week with two of three businessmen who have been charged along with him. The senator has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, fraud, extortion, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent of Egypt. A third businessman has pleaded guilty in the case and will testify against the others.

Lawyers for New Jersey real estate developer Fred Daibes and businessman Wael Hana spoke to jurors Thursday, a day after a prosecutor and Menendez’s lawyer gave opening statements.

Attorney Lawrence Lustberg, representing Hana, said prosecutors had built their case against his client on “innocent acts.”

He said Hana was longtime friends since 2009 with Nadine Menendez and that Hana and Nadine Menendez had exchanged expensive gifts over the years. He said there was never a time when Hana either directly to Bob Menendez or indirectly through Nadine Menendez gave a bribe in exchange for official acts by the senator.

Attorney Cesar De Castro, representing Daibes, told jurors the case was about relationships and prosecutors were trying to exploit facts about a three-decade friendship between the senator and Daibes to claim crimes occurred. He said they will conclude his client was not guilty.

On Wednesday, attorney Avi Weitzman, representing Bob Menendez, told jurors his client was unaware that his spouse had accepted gifts from the three businessmen and did not know about cash and gold bars hidden in a closet at their home.

The statement came after an opening statement by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz in which the prosecutor repeatedly highlighted gold bars and cash found in the home.

Menendez has held public office continuously since 1986, serving as a state legislator before 14 years as a U.S. congressman. In 2006, then-Gov. Jon Corzine appointed Menendez to the Senate seat he vacated when he became governor.

The trial, which began Monday, is projected to last up to two months.

Catalini reported from Trenton, New Jersey.

FILE - Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife Nadine Menendez arrive at the federal courthouse in New York, Sept. 27, 2023. Menendez said Thursday, May 16, 2024, that his wife has breast cancer and will require a mastectomy, a revelation made just as the presentation of evidence began at his New York bribery trial. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon, File)

In this courtroom sketch, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, seated far left, looks at his defense attorney Avi Weitzman give his opening statement during his trial Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in New York. Judge Sidney Stein is presiding. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz gives her opening statement while gesturing to Robert Menendez, far left, as Judge Sidney Stein presides in Manhattan federal court, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., leaves Manhattan federal court after the second day of jury selection in his trial, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in New York. The Democrat has pleaded not guilty to bribery, extortion, fraud and obstruction of justice, along with acting as a foreign agent of Egypt. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)