Having won last week’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, Real Madrid remain on course for a historic treble. Having chosen to postpone their weekend match in La Liga, Carlo Ancelotti’s men come into their first leg tie against Bayern Munich fresh. More importantly, it’s also given their star man Cristiano Ronaldo a chance to return to the starting line-up. Ronaldo – who is the Champions League top goal scorer this season with 14 goals – also missed the second leg of the quarter final were Real were ever so lucky to scrape by an inspired Borussia Dortmund side. Despite taking a 3-0 lead into that match, the Spanish side had to rely on wasteful finishing from their German opponents to make it through to the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive year. They haven’t made the final of this competition since they won it in 2003, which is too long considering the tradition and history of the club.
Since they won the Champions League in 2013 at Wembley, Bayern Munich have been the favourites to be the first ever side to retain their title. They have, of course, change manager since then as Pep Guardiola has taken over from Jupp Heynckes in the summer and it looks like he has taken them to a whole other level. The style of play has changed, however, as Guardiola has tried to impart the sort of philosophy he was famed for during his time with Barcelona. The playing squad is near identical, though, with the notable exceptions of Thiago and Mario Gotze who have impressed at times. Since they captured the German Bundesliga in March, their form had tailed off, going four games without a win. They put that right in the second leg of their quarter final against Manchester United, recovering from going a goal down to win 3-1. They have since lost 3-0 at home to Dortmund suggesting that their sole focus is now on securing the Champions League and German Cup.
It remains to be seen whether or not Ronaldo will start on Wednesday but you can be sure that the medical staff will be doing everything they possibly can as Real Madrid look to break their recent semi-final hoodoo. Barcelona, Dortmund and Munich, in 2012, have all accounted for them in the last four in recent years. One man who could be key to changing that unwanted record is Gareth Bale. The Welshman was the difference against Barca last week as he continues to cope with being the World’s most expensive player.
Guardiola is no stranger to playing against Real Madrid having captained and managed their most bitter of rivals for well over a decade. He had a great record when he was the boss at the Nou Camp and oversaw that semi-final defeat of Madrid in 2011. His Bayern side have not been impressive as they were earlier in the season but they remain a formidable proposition. They won 7-0 on aggregate at this stage of the competition last season against a Spanish club, it may not be as straightforward this time around but they are favourites to progress to their third Champions League final in a row.
It was a fixture which many hoped would be this year’s final. The two most exciting sides in European football at this point in time going head to head over two legs really is one of the purists. Real Madrid will allow Bayern to dominate possession as they are famed for their pace on the break whilst the German’s will be hoping for that all important away goal. I think both side’s weakness is in defence and fully expect both to score at least once in Madrid on Wednesday.
Both teams to score 4/7 @ Ladbrokes
