Pep wary of wounded Bayern

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is taking little notice of suggestions that Bayern Munich have already given up.

Barca hold a 4-0 lead heading into Tuesday's second leg in Munich and comments coming out of the German giants from the likes of coach Jurgen Klinsmann and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge indicate they have little hope of turning the tie around.

However, Guardiola is remaining cautious and is warning his players not to take anything for granted against a Bayern side who beat Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 at home in the Bundesliga yesterday, and thrashed Sporting Lisbon 12-1 on aggregate in the previous round of the Champions League.

"It's a good test for us. We need to go there with care," said Guardiola, who will watch the Bayern game from the stands after being sent from the dugout during last week's first leg.

"Bayern are capable of scoring four goals, and even more so when they are hurt like they are.

"I don't believe the declarations that are coming out about the fact they have already given the game up for lost.

"I'm convinced that they'll have a good game and (Franck) Ribery and co are very dangerous players. We have to go there thinking we need to win the game."

Guardiola was speaking after seeing his treble-chasing side go nine points clear at the top of the Primera Division with their 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Recreativo Huelva last night.

Andres Iniesta gave Barca the perfect start by breaking the deadlock in the opening minute but the expected deluge of goals against Recre failed to materialise and it was not until the 68th minute that Guardiola's men doubled their lead, Nasief Morris putting the ball in his own net when trying to cut out Iniesta's cross.

Barca then missed a late penalty through Lionel Messi before surviving a scare when Recre striker Ersen Martin had a goal ruled out for a marginal offside decision.

It was far from the vintage Barca that had scored 15 goals in their previous three home matches against Lyon, Malaga and Bayern but Guardiola was just as happy to see his side win with a gritty performance.

"Victories like the one against Valladolid after the international break, and like this one after a Champions League game... these are the kind of games which win you things in the end," he said.

"Even though we lacked a little dynamism, we've responded very well, and right now we have a nine-point advantage over second place, although it will surely be back to six (second-placed Real Madrid host Real Valladolid tonight).

"We've done our work, we've been focused and we are deserved winners."