Allianz-Arena — München
Team News
Bayern Munich
Jupp Heynckes will recall Mario Gomez, Franck Ribery, Philipp Lahm and
probably Toni Kroos to the starting lineup after all 4 did not start the
draw with Mainz at the weekend. Of those players, only Lahm did not
feature at all, but all 4 should be fresh for this game.
Bastian Schweinsteiger is back to fitness, and played 90 minutes on
Saturday, but it is likely that Luis Gustavo and Toni Kroos will start
as the anchors to Bayern's midfield, as they have done in recent weeks.
Boateng, Muller, Alaba, Gustavo and Kroos are all one yellow card away from picking up a suspension and missing the second leg.
probable lineups : Neuer, Alaba, Badstuber, Boateng, Lahm, Gustavo, Kroos, Ribéry, Müller, Robben, Gomez. (4-2-3-1).
Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso missed the win over Gijon at the weekend due to domestic suspension, but will return to the team for this game. Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria were both introduced at half time at
the weekend, and should return to the starting lineup here.
Kaka has been on good form recently and could well be involved. He sat
out the Gijon match, but it is not clear whether that was with a view to
have him fresh for this game or just because he was not needed.
None of Mourinho's players are in danger of inducing a suspension due to their yellow card tally.
probable lineups : Casillas, Arbeola, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Alonso, Khedira, María, Özil, Ronaldo, Benzema. (4-2-3-1).
Match Facts
Bayern Munich have been winning at both half time and full time in 5 of their last 7 matches in UEFA Champions League.
Bayern Munich win/win (HT/FT)
Bayern Munich have kept a clean sheet in their last 3 matches in UEFA Champions League.
Bayern Munich are undefeated in their last 7 home matches against Real Madrid in all competitions. Bayern Munich win/draw
Real Madrid have been winning at both half time and full time in 7 of their last 9 matches in UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid win/win (HT/FT)
Real Madrid have won 9 of their last 10 matches in UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid have scored at least 3 goals in 5 of their last 6 matches in UEFA Champions League.
Head to Head
Bayern Munich| Apr 14, 2012 | FC Bayern München 0 - Mainz 0 | GER1 |
| Apr 11, 2012 | Borussia Dortmund 1 - FC Bayern München 0 | GER1 |
| Apr 7, 2012 | FC Bayern München 2 - FC Augsburg 1 | GER1 |
| Apr 3, 2012 | FC Bayern München 2 - Olympique de Marseille 0 | UCL |
| Mar 31, 2012 | Nürnberg 0 - FC Bayern München 1 | GER1 |
Real Madrid| Apr 14, 2012 | Real Madrid CF 3 - Sporting de Gijon 1 | LIGA |
| Apr 11, 2012 | Atletico Madrid 1 - Real Madrid CF 4 | LIGA |
| Apr 8, 2012 | Real Madrid CF 0 - Valencia CF 0 | LIGA |
| Apr 4, 2012 | Real Madrid CF 5 - APOEL Nicosia 2 | UCL |
| Mar 31, 2012 | Osasuna 1 - Real Madrid CF 5 | LIGA |
| Club Friendlies (FR) | Aug 13, 2010 | FC Bayern München 2 - Real Madrid CF 4 |
While watching Barcelona is always a spectacle in itself, many people
feel that this will be the more exciting of the semi-finals. Both sides
have scored goals for fun this season - on countless occasions each have
scored more than 5 goals in a game. It will be interesting to see
whether both sides approach this game with caution or play to their
strengths and attack the opposition.
Real, meanwhile, have only failed to score once since mid-September, and
have not lost since the Clasico against Barcelona, 21 games ago. They
have won 17 and drawn 3 of their last 20 away games, so will be
confident of scoring an important away goal and getting yet another
positive result. They have scored 33 goals in their 10 Champions League
games this season, and with Ronaldo et all firing on all cylinders,
should get the goal that gives them the advantage for the return leg in
Spain.
This is a deep-seated rivalry, and quite possibly the biggest one in
Europe between two sides from different countries. They have not met
competitively since 2007, when Bayern progressed on away goals. The
second leg, at the Allianz Arena, became a tempestuous affair, with Mark
van Bommel and Mahamadou Diarra both sent off in the final 10 minutes.
Both teams will have vastly different personnel on the pitch this time
around, but the rivalry will definitely remain, and this, along with the
occasion of a Champions League semi-final could make for another feisty
encounter. The teams could cancel each other out in this first leg,
leaving things open for the return match at the Bernabeu.
For all their goalscoring exploits this season, Bayern have recently
been somewhat lacklustre in front of goal, having failed to score in
their last 2 games. However, before that, they went on a nine game
winning streak and have bags of potential to score a few goals, whoever
the opposition. Furthermore, it will be an even more significant
occasion for Bayern manager, Jupp Heynckes, who lead Real Madrid to the
1998 Champions League title, and he will do everything he can to get his
side back to their potent best.
Bayern Munich 1 - 1 Real Madrid
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