Can Bayern finish off Real to reach semis?

Can Bayern finish off Real to reach semis?

Bayern face another magical European night as they look to book their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League when Real Madrid come to the Allianz Arena for Wednesday's quarter-final second leg (kick-off at 21:00 CEST, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). Vincent Kompany’s men hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg at the Bernabéu last week but know they will need to concentrate until the very end against the 15-time European champions.

“The advantage is that we won the first leg, but it’s just one goal. It can go either way,” said captain Manuel Neuer at the pre-match press conference. “Real Madrid are a tough one, but we’ve got a slight advantage. And we also have the advantage that our crowd at home will be really up for en evening like tomorrow.”

Recap all the build-up on the eve of the second leg here:

Build-up to second leg against Real Madrid

Latest news from Bayern

The 2-1 victory in Madrid was doubly significant. Not only did it put Bayern in the driving seat to progress, but it also ended a run of nine games without a win over Real in the Champions League (D2, L7). Only once before have the Bavarians done the double over Los Blancos in a single season. That was in the 2000/01 semi-finals en route to the club’s fourth European crown.

“One of the key things, no doubt, is that we have a great deal of respect for Real. We felt that way even before the game at the Bernabéu, and we still do. We’re preparing for the best version of Real, which is what we saw against Manchester City. Their recent results don’t reflect the talent they possess. They’re still one of the best teams in Europe,” Kompany added of Bayern’s opponents.

History is also on Bayern’s side going into the second leg. This is the 23rd time they have won away from home in the first game of a European Cup/Champions League knockout tie. In 21 of the previous 22 occasions they went through to the next round. The one exception was against Inter Milan in 2010/11. Bayern also go into this decisive game on the back of a big domestic win after putting five unanswered goals past St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday, but they know Real are a different calibre and showed it at times last week. “I think it was a good result. That's all. Maybe we could've scored one more goal, but we also could've conceded more. We've got a slight advantage, nothing more. It’ll be a top game, a tough game and it's not over yet. I was really pleased with the result. And everything we can improve we'll try to improve,” Kompany added.

Find the missing player to be in with the chance of winning a signed Michael Olise jersey:

Take part in the Real challenge: Which player are we looking for?

Harry Kane will also be in the spotlight once more for this game. He’s scored six goals in his last four Champions League appearances and could equal the best scoring run by an English player in the competition if he nets again. The striker has also scored or assisted four times in his last four outings against Real.

In addition, Neuer will likely again be called upon, as he was several times at the Bernabéu. “It's not about the names. It's about an important Champions League match for us, for the club. We're playing against Real Madrid. I don't care about individual players. Obviously we've analysed them. We have the experience to play the best football as a team. That’ll be crucial tomorrow. If we function as a team, I'm very optimistic that we can go through to the semi-finals,” the captain stated.

Read up on the facts ahead of the game:

What points to progression against Real Madrid

Opponent: Real Madrid

If not Real Madrid, then who could overturn such a first-leg deficit? That was the question Álvaro Arbeloa posed to the media a week ago. He and the club went on the attack just minutes after their loss at home as they made it clear that they were far from out. Their results in this season’s Champions League alone are enough reason for confidence. They’ve won 1-0 at Benfica and 2-1 at Manchester City in their away legs of previous knockout ties, which would both be enough to take Wednesday’s second leg to extra-time. It means they come to the Allianz Arena boasting their typical confidence. “We’re Real Madrid. We’re here with the belief we can do it. We’re a team that never gives up,” their coach affirmed at his pre-match press conference in Munich.

Los Blancos also arrive in Germany with a good recent record of three wins from their last four visits to the Allianz Arena. “We’re in a good position, but we can’t overestimate that, because we’ve seen in the past how Real can hit you. But we’re confident,” Neuer added. But does this Real team in their current form have what it takes? Arbeloa’s team have failed to win any of their last three competitive fixtures, losing twice. Given their nine-point deficit to Barcelona in La Liga and their Copa del Rey exit at the hands of second division Albacete, the Champions League is their last realistic chance at silverware this season. The pressure is certainly on in Munich.

Get the latest on Real’s form:

Form guide: Real Madrid draw with Girona

“It's a really important game for our situation. It's almost like a final for us. We all know what tomorrow's about. It's all or nothing. We need to be aggressive and do our all to win,” Jude Bellingham explained. The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder, alongside Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior up front, ensure Real have plenty of firepower at their disposal. Mbappé alone has scored 14 goals in nine Champions League games this season. Should he strike again at the Allianz Arena, he’d become the first player in the competition’s history to reach double digits for away goals in a single campaign. Vinícius also showed flashes in the first leg but was unable to get past Player of the Match Neuer and his defence. A repeat performance should see Bayern into the final four.

Team news

Kompany has an almost full squad at his disposal, with Serge Gnabry ready to return to action after missing Saturday’s game at St. Pauli. “Everyone involved tomorrow can play 90 minutes,” the boss confirmed. Only Lennart Karl (hamstring) and Sven Ulreich (adductor) will miss out, although the latter did train for the first time again on Tuesday.

Real come to Munich without the suspended Aurélien Tchouaméni, as well as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (thigh) and Rodrygo (cruciate ligament).

Enjoy some of Bayern’s most memorable encounters with Real Madrid with FC Bayern TV PLUS:

Unforgettable matches against Real Madrid in full

What the coaches say

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