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Bayerns Harry Kane and Madrids Vincius Jnior
Bayern and Madrid met for the 29th time in the first leg – another chapter in the Champions League’s most repeated fixture. Goals from Luis Díaz and Harry Kane earned Bayern a narrow 2-1 win, ending Madrid’s nine-game unbeaten run in this match-up (W7 D2), but Kylian Mbappé’s late strike could prove pivotal as the tie heads to Munich.
Both sides were eliminated at this stage last season and there remains little to separate them historically – Madrid lead the head-to-head 13 wins to 12 – but Bayern now have the chance to seize the initiative in a rivalry that of late has swung the Spanish side’s way.
Vincent Kompany’s team are in formidable form, winning every home game in Europe this season, averaging 3.2 goals in those matches, and losing just twice in 44 matches across all competitions. With Kane chasing a personal-best Champions League goal tally and Mbappé closing in on the competition’s single-season scoring record of 17, the second leg brings together two sides with attacking firepower in abundance – and very little margin for error.
Possible line-ups
Bayern München: Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanišić; Kimmich, Pavlović; Olise, Gnabry, Luis Díaz; Kane
Real Madrid: Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Fran García; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Arda Güler, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior
Bayern München
Form: WWWWWD (most recent game first)
Latest: St Pauli 0-5 Bayern, 11/04, German Bundesliga
Real Madrid
Form: DLLWWW
Latest: Real Madrid 1-1 Girona, 10/04, Spanish Liga
Views from the camps
Vincent Kompany, Bayern coach: “Everyone will be available for the game. We have our own processes for getting ready, and there’s a lot of excitement going into the match. We want to win, to show that we can deliver what our fans expect from us. We respect our opponents, of course, but this team has to go into the game with the confidence to win.”
Manuel Neuer, Bayern goalkeeper: “We only have a one-goal lead, and the match could go in any direction. Real Madrid are always tough and demanding opponents, but we have a slight edge, and we also have the advantage of a special home atmosphere on nights like tomorrow. Our starting position is good, but we can’t become complacent, because we’ve seen in the past how Real can strike. Nevertheless, we’re confident.”
Álvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid coach: “We need to improve many aspects of our game. It’s important to take our chances as we won’t have as many as in the first leg. It’s about confidence. We have to play very well.”
Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid midfielder: “It’s a final for us. We have a lot at stake and we have to play well. It’s all or nothing, that’s our mentality. We’re not going to hide.” (Uefa.com)