Bayern, Real set to strife in appetizing quarter-final
PHOTO: REUTERS
MUNICH: Bayern Munich horde Real Madrid in Wednesday’s mouthwatering Champions League quarter-final, first-leg, with Carlo Ancelotti’s Bavarians looking once again to be a Spaniards’ ‘bete noire’.
And a subplots to a Allianz Arena strife are fascinating, as Bayern trainer Carlo Ancelotti coached Real to a 2014 Champions League climax and is adult opposite his former partner from that triumph, Madrid’s stream conduct manager Zinedine Zidane.
Real’s Varane sidelined for a month
World Cup 2010 leader Xabi Alonso, who also won a 2014 Champions League before fasten Bayern, will face his ex-club for a final time before timid in June.
And Real’s Germany midfielder Toni Kroos is another to be entrance adult opposite his former employers.
Ancelotti says “little things will make a difference” between a star-studded squads that will see dual goal-scoring giants go head-to-head.
Real defender Pepe suffers damaged ribs
Bayern’s top-scorer Robert Lewandowski, with 38 goals in all competitions this season, is adult opposite Portuguese luminary Cristiano Ronaldo, with 26 goals from 36 games.
That might be medium by his standards, though Ronaldo has worried Bayern in a past with 4 goals in as many games and a Bavarians will be wary, generally with backup from Wales star Gareth Bale and France’s Karim Benzema.
Lewandowski suffered a painful shoulder in scoring twice in Saturday’s 4-1 hammering of Borussia Dortmund, though expects to be “100 percent” fit.
Bayern are on a Champions League record of 16 true European wins during a Allianz Arena and that’s a record Dutch winger Arjen Robben is penetrating to maintain.
“We have to adult a ante, we have to vigilance [to Real] from a initial notation that there is zero to take in Munich and we wish to win a game,” he said.
Bayern are looking to redeem their ‘bete noire’ nickname, given to them by Real fans after Munich won 8 of 14 matches opposite Real between 2000 and 2012.
All that altered in a 2014 Champions League’s semi-final when a group coached by Pep Guardiola was thrashed 4-0 in Munich, crashing out 5-0 on total as Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos netted twice each.
That better stays Bayern’s record home European loss, nonetheless there is no speak of punish forward of Wednesday’s clash.
“This is a quarter-finals, though it sounds like a final,” pronounced Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. “We’re personification opposite an comprehensive tip team, who have tip players in each position. We will have to play to a potential.”
However, both sides are blank pivotal defenders. Germany’s Mats Hummels was ruled out after deleterious ankle ligaments on Sunday so Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez will form a centre-back partnership.
Hummels faces a competition opposite time to be behind for a lapse during a Santiago Bernabeu on Apr 18, while Real have defenders Pepe and Raphael Varane ruled out of both legs.
Pepe suffered a double rib detonate in Saturday’s 1-1 pull with Atletico Madrid, while Varane is out for a month with a hamstring injury.
Right-back Daniel Carvajal lerned on his possess on Monday and is struggling with a knock.
Bayern perceived a boost on Monday with Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer behind in training following a teenager feet operation 10 days ago, while Thomas Mueller is also fit after an ankle injury.
“We’re really confident. It’s a European cracker featuring dual tip teams,” pronounced Mueller. “We also notice it outward a club, not usually in terms of a media, though also when articulate to friends or acquaintances in Munich. Everyone’s articulate about a game.”
Article source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1380606/bayern-real-set-clash-mouth-watering-quarter-final/