It's time for the biggest clash of the Champions League of the season now as Bayern Munich welcome Real Madrid to the Allianz Arena for the first leg of quarterfinals. The phrase "It can't get better than this" fits perfectly for tonight's match as fans will be licking their lips for a mouth-watering clash.
Sergio Ramos versus Jerome Boateng. Thiago versus Toni Kroos. Cristiano Ronaldo versus Arjen Robben. These are the clashes which make tonight's game having all the ingredients to make a brilliant dish.
Carlo Ancelotti, who left Real Madrid in 2015, will be playing against his former team for the first time. The Italian genius became part of the folklore at Real after delivering La Decima for the Blancos. His successor, Zinedine Zidane won the Champions League last season. These two sides have, in fact, now won the Champions League thrice in the last four years. Munich won it in 2013 whereas Real Madrid won the elite competition in 2014 and 2016.
Also, Read: Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid Live
The Bavarians advanced to the quarterfinals after humiliating Arsenal in the round of 16 whereas Real Madrid overcame a stern challenge from Napoli. Bayern have been arguably playing the best football in Europe since the turn of the calendar year and Real Madrid's back line might find it tough to keep Robert Lewandowski and co. quiet for 90 minutes.
Form guide
Bayern Munich come into this game after dismantling Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker 4-1 this past weekend. In the last six home games, Bayern have scored a staggering 29 goals to maintain their 10 point lead over RB Leipzig at the summit of the Bundesliga.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, drew against Atletico Madrid on the weekend as an 86th-minute equaliser from Antoine Griezmann saw the Blancos drop two crucial points. Zidane's men are unbeaten in their last nine games and have achieved a unique feat of scoring in 52 consecutive games now. They have a three-point lead over Barcelona in La Liga and also have a game in hand over their bitter rivals.
Bayern Munich: W-L-W-W-W
Real Madrid: D-W-W-W-W
Team news
Bayern Munich will be without the services of Mats Hummels who suffered ankle ligament damage which made him miss the match against his former side, Borussia Dortmund. The good news for Bayern is that Manuel Neuer trained on Monday after a minor foot operation and is expected to start tonight. Thomas Muller is also in line to take up a place on the bench.
Real Madrid have bigger injury problems than their counterparts as they will miss two of their central defenders in the form of Pepe and Raphael Varane. The Frenchman is out with a hamstring issue while Pepe suffered rib damage in his last game against the Colchoneros. Daniel Carvajal, on the other hand, trained on Monday but is doubtful for the match in Germany.
Head to Head
Since the European Cup became the Champions League, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have played against each other a record 17 times. The record slightly favours the Bavarians as they have won eight out of the 17 encounters. Real Madrid have won seven while two games have ended with spoils shared.
The last meeting between the two sides saw Real Madrid beating Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Allianz Arena with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a brace. This was Munich's last home defeat in Europe as revenge will be on the cards for the mighty Bavarians.
Predicted lineups
Bayern Munich - Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Javi Martinez, Alaba, Xabi Alonso, Vidal, Thiago, Robben, Lewandowski, Ribery.
Real Madrid - Navas, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Nacho, Carvajal, Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Predicted score
Bayern Munich 3-1 Real Madrid
