PREVIEW | UEFA Champions League: Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid

PREVIEW | UEFA Champions League: Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid

With a second Meisterschale on the bounce now within touching distance, Bayern Munich’s focus until the season’s end will be firmly on the cup competitions. With either Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool awaiting Wednesday’s victors in the semi-finals of this season’s UEFA Champions League, and with Bayern facing Bayer Leverkusen at the same stage of the DFB Pokal, head coach Vincent Kompany could follow in the footsteps of Jupp Heynckes and Hansi Flick in securing an unprecedented treble.

Holding a slender one goal advantage after their 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu last Tuesday, Bayern find themselves in a strong position as they continue their pursuit of their seventh victory in the competition.

The six-time European Champions backed up their impressive display in Madrid with a demolition job of St Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday, despite resting several key players. A star-studded bench at the Millerntor included the likes of Harry Kane, Aleksander Pavlović, and Dayot Upamecano, none of whom were called upon by Kompany, with the three points safely in the bag by the hour mark.

Their opponents from the Spanish capital, the 15-time winners of the competition, laboured to a 1-1 draw with Girona in their return to league action on Friday evening. While Los Blancos also rested a few key players, their lineup still included star men Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.

After Manuel Neuer’s Man of the Match display in the opening leg of the tie, Kompany was full of praise for his veteran goalkeeper, stating: “It wasn’t just experience, it was quality. He was very agile, which he only manages because he does so much for his body during the week. He makes it look so easy. You see these saves, which all look so safe, but they’re difficult moments for a goalkeeper. We needed that, and we’ll need those moments again in the coming weeks.”

The 40-year-old stopper will have to be on top form once again on Wednesday, as, with the visitors needing a comeback, Bayern may face a barrage of Madrid attacks at some point. Kompany is under no illusions as to the threat that Real carry. Speaking before the first leg, he explained: “Every team at this level is dangerous. We want to not concede any goals and score at least one. There’s no specific game plan against a team like Real. We have a lot of topics that we’re attending to. I hope we have enough answers up our sleeve.”

Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid team news

It seems almost certain that, barring any late hiccups, Kane will start, but who plays in behind him is still up for debate. With Serge Gnabry missing from the squad in Hamburg on Saturday due to a knee problem, it remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough to make an immediate return. Starting in his place, Raphaël Guerreiro staked his claim by wrapping up the points as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes at the Millerntor. Jamal Musiala is the obvious candidate to start in the No. 10 role, but after such a long injury lay-off, there is the question of whether he should start two games in the space of just five days.

The visitors will be without both Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo through injury, as well as Aurélien Tchouaméni due to suspension.

Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid predicted XI’s

Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer – Josip Stanisic, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Konrad Laimer – Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović – Luis Diaz, Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise – Harry Kane

Real Madrid: Andriy Lunin – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rudiger, Alvaro Carreras – Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham – Arder Guler, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior

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