By Barry Whelan, dpa

A spectacular goal by Franck Ribery is a boost for the French winger seeking a new contract after a long injury battle – and for Bayern Munich’s hopes of a league, cup and Champions League treble as the season enters the final straight.

Berlin (dpa) – Franck Ribery may have timed his comeback just right for Bayern Munich’s quest for a title treble and the French winger’s own battle for a new contract.

A spectacular winning goal against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday signalled that Ribery is right back in the frame after a long battle against injury.

 

The side-on scissors kick would be enough to put a spring in the step of any player – but for Ribery his first goal of the year was particularly gratifying after missing out injured from March to December, and then again until February.

 

«I had never scored a goal like that before in my career. It was really great,» Ribery said.

 

Not only sidelined, the former France international was at times forgotten thanks to the performances this season of summer signings Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman.

 

Now, with Bayern taking on Benfica in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals in the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, Guardiola has another potent attacking weapon in the player who has thrilled Bayern fans for almost nine years, with 70 goals from 201 games.

 

Whether it will prove enough for a contract extension when Ribery’s current deal expires next season remains to be seen. Ribery will be

33 on Thursday, and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is not giving anything away on the player’s future at the club.

 

«It was a wonderful goal, without question, but personnel policies are not something we discuss in public,» was all Rummenigge would say after the win over Frankfurt.

 

Ribery himself feels he still has much to offer, and does not hide his love for the club and his desire to stay in Munich. After experiencing Ottmar Hitzfeld, Juergen Klinsmann, Louis van Gaal, Jupp Heynckes and Guardiola as coaches, he now has the opportunity to impress Carlo Ancelotti when he takes over next season.

 

«I have everything I need here. The club and me belong together,»

said Ribery, who says he is working intensively to regain full fitness.

 

«I feel better from game to game, and I have the rhythm. Whether I am at 90 per cent, 95 per cent or 100 per cent I can’t really say.» he said.

 

Ribery’s acrobatic goal in the 1-0 win over Frankfurt came after midfielder Mario Goetze’s effort had been blocked by goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.

 

Goetze is another player who has been on the fringes at Bayern as a result of injury and is reportedly facing an uncertain future at the club.

 

But the return of Ribery, Goetze and – almost unnoticed – holding midfielder Javi Martinez – is a boost for Guardiola, who would dearly love to crown his three-year stay at Bayern with the Champions League title.

 

Their returns also compensate for the absence of winger Arjen Robben who is labouring with a groin strain, and the injured defender Jerome Boateng.

 

After scraping into the quarter-finals against Juventus, Bayern start as favourites against Benfica as they seek a fifth successive place in the semi-finals.

 

Bayern have an undefeated record against the Portuguese champions in Europe, going through in their three previous ties, with four wins and two draws.

 

The last time they met, in the 1995-1996 UEFA Cup third round, Klinsmann scored all four goals in Bayern’s 4-1 home first-leg victory, then struck two more in a 3-1 win in Lisbon with Andreas Herzog scoring the other.

 

In all, Bayern have an impressive record against Portuguese opposition, winning 14 times and drawing eight with only two defeats.

One of those losses came at the same stage last season when Bayern were defeated 3-1 in Porto before winning the second leg 6-1.

 

Bayern remain five points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga on their way to a fourth championship title in a row, but the win over Frankfurt was – but for Ribery’s goal – easily forgettable.

 

Bayern will have to «play much better» to overcome Benfica, Rummenigge said, adding: «The quality we showed today won’t be enough on Tuesday, that’s clear.»