This is the blockbuster clash of the round with 11 time
champions Real taking on 6 time Champions Bayern Munich.
The game is exciting as it features teacher against student.
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was assistant manager under
Carlo Ancelotti during the spell when the Italian ended Real's 12 year wait for
La Decima. Zidane has added la Undecima in the 16 months he has been in charge
of Los Blancos.
Both the teams had massive weekend games in their domestic
leagues with Real having a stalemate in their clash against Atletico and Bayern
absolutely trouncing Borussia Dortmund 4-1 in Der Klassiker.
Real Madrid played a strong 1st 11 against
Atletico and we can expect the same team to start vs Bayern.
The Spanish side are without defenders Pépé and Raphael
Varane. Bayern have injury problems of their own with striker Robert
Lewandowski who has scored 38 goals this season a doubt following an injury to
his shoulder in Saturdays 4-1 win against Borussia Dortmund. He did return to
training ahead of the game. Mats Hummels who came on as a substitute at the
weekend is ruled out after injury sustained in that game.
Bayern rested Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer but didn’t seem
as though they were playing a slightly weakened team. Such is the power of
their squad that they won’t really miss Robert Lewandowski should he fail to
start.
In Lewandowski’s absence. Thomas Müller can lead the line
and the duo of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery can be a handful for any defence
in the world. In their last 6 home games
the Bavarians have scored an astonishing 29 goals and seen only 2 goals fly
past keeper Manuel Neuer. Their loss at Hoffenheim was their first in 2017.
Real Madrid are on a 9 match unbeaten streak in all
competitions and are looking to become the first team to defend the European
Cup since its rechristening as the Champions League.
The game will be the
23rd clash between the two making it the most played European fixture and just
by looking at the names on both sides. One wishes that this match was the final
of the tournament.
Expect Bayern to see this through as they are in the form of
their lives at the moment and have a vast number of resources to call upon.
Real need Ronaldo who has had a quiet season by his standards or Bale to step
up and fire.
Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Martinez, Alaba, Kimmich, Vidal, Muller,
Robben, Ribery, Lewandowski/Alcantara
Bench: Ulreich, Coman Costa, Alonso, Bernat, Rafinha,
Sanches
Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Nacho Fernandez, Marcelo, Casemiro, Kroos,
Modric, Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Bench: Casilla, Morata, Kovacic, Isco, Vazquez, James,
Danilo
They both are top of their respective leagues and they both
get the results…. expect a cracker.
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