MUNICH - Bayern Munich and Italy striker Luca Toni is in confident mood ahead of Thursday's UEFA Cup tie with Aberdeen.
The Dons held Bayern to a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie last week, but Toni expects things to be different at the Allianz Arena.
"Bayern is superior to Aberdeen," he said.
"We have got to demonstrate that we are stronger and go through.
"Aberdeen may be good, but we are FC Bayern."
Toni scored a hat-trick for Bayern in their 3-0 win over Hannover in the Bundesliga on Sunday and will again lead the line against Aberdeen on Thursday.
Alongside him will be Miroslav Klose in a partnership coach Ottmar Hitzfeld described as "an ideal attack" - despite the fact Klose has not scored in the last two games.
"I am happy with both players," said Hitzfeld.
"Toni scored three goals at the weekend and Klose moved a lot, creating holes for Toni to then get into."
Toni added that it was "laughable" to criticise Klose for not scoring for two games.
"What would happen if he did not score for five games?" he said.
Toni is on course for the Bundesliga golden boot award and is currently the UEFA Cup's top scorer after netting six times so far this season in Europe.
Nevertheless, Klose emphasised that football is a team game and taking the plaudits personally comes second.
"Toni is a player who scores because he has a team behind him which put him in position to score," said the 29-year-old.
"I am the striker, so it is my job to score, but behind me, I have an excellent team."
That team is regarded as one of the favourites not only to beat Aberdeen on Thursday, but to go on and lift the UEFA Cup in Manchester in May.
And Hitzfeld is aware his side cannot afford to under-estimate the Dons, otherwise their European campaign could end embarrassingly prematurely.
He said: "As favourites to win the final, it is necessary that we beat Aberdeen.
"But they are going to defend. They will run, be aggressive in the tackle and fight for every inch of land, which is their philosophy.
"On a better pitch than the one in Aberdeen last week, we hope to prove our superiority tomorrow."
Hitzfeld will be without France midfielder Franck Ribery, who is expected back in full training on Friday, while defender Martin Demichelis is also ruled out.
Bastian Schweinsteiger is also a doubt and missed training on Thursday as a precautionary measure and a decision over his inclusion will be taken in the morning.
