Bayern Munich VS Real Madrid, Champions League semi-final (17/4/12, 7:45PM TV3)

RiseToTheTop

VS

Champions League Semi-Final
Allianz Arena, Munich
KO 7.45 PM

This will be some match I reckon. Bayern have been in poor form lately, losing away to Borussia Dortmund last week, and drawing at home earlier this week (leaving Dortmund needing only 1 win out of their last 3 games to win the league) but I have no doubt that they will be up for the game.

Bastian Schwensteiger was out from injury from Febuary 8 till he came off the bench against Marseille at the start of this month. It is doubtful he will be playing as he is not near full fitness. Mario Gomez has been outstanding for Bayern, getting 39 goals in 45 games this season, including 25 goals in the league. They have a very solid goalie in Neuer.

Real Madrid have a clean bill of health. Di Maria had missed 2 months from December, came back in Febuary but got injured for another month. He has come back for 3 weeks now and has been outstanding. He is top assister in La Liga despite being out for 3 months this season, and has created 4 goals since his return. Coentrao is back from injury, so it is either him or Marcelo for left back. I say Coentrao as he is more solid defensively than Marcelo, and Mourino looks for that away. Marcelo is like Roberto Carlos in that he favours attack of defence, he is like a left winger at times.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín and Benzema have scored 107 goals between the 3 of them this season (Ronaldo 53, Higuaín 25, Benzema 29.) Benzema and Higuaín have been switched regularly as Mourinho doesn't like 2 strikers at the same time. Despite Higuaín getting 21 league goals (compared to Ronaldo and Messi's 40) he has the most goals scored per minute in the league, at 74 minutes per goal. (compared to Ronaldo and Messi's 77 minutes per goal.) This is because Benzema is more favoured for a starting position in the league, so Higuaín normally comes off the bench.

Schweinsteiger has stated "It's all or nothing on Tuesday. We have to go to the limits and beyond, but we can do it with our fans behind us. It won’t be easy, and it comes down to mental strength. I hope we show the mentality which marks Bayern out." Who knows!! I say the atmosphere will be electric in the Allianz.

carlop

I'm a bit torn on this one. I generally want Real Madrid to lose, but I think a Clasico CL final would be very epic, and in a roundabout way could also help Ireland, as surely the bones of the Spanish squad kicking lumps out of each other bot literally and verbally won't do much for team unity.

I think Madrid will prevail over the two games, but I expect them to have a scare or two tomorrow and would not be surprised if Bayern open the scoring.

kryogen

This one could be a classic, hope it is from a neutral point of view anyway!

God knows I have had very little interest in the competition since the group stages

RandolphEsq

Bayern will go through overall but I expect two cracking legs.

Red Crow

Real Madrid should be too strong but with a final in Munich to play for I can see them doing it over two legs.

GavRedKing

1-1 I reckon but expect a great game. Real to do it over 2legs.

Blatter

Bayern will be found out over these two legs imo. They're a good side that can be lethal on their day but there's a false perception that they're up there with Barca/Real. If they were as good as that they'd be strolling through the Bundesliga, yet they're struggling.

kryogen

At home Bayern have a good chance of getting something, if they play to their ability, but Madrid should have plenty in hand on them over the two legs tbh. They are a level or two above them as a team I think.

Munich can be great, lethal at home sometimes, but as Blatter has alluded to, if they were that good they would be winning the Bundesliga comfortably.

Madrid to win by 3 clear goals in the tie

2-1 in Munich
3-1 at home

Sanity_Saviour

kryogen wrote: »

This one could be a classic, hope it is from a neutral point of view anyway!

God knows I have had very little interest in the competition since the group stages

Despite it producing truly fantastic knockout stages?

kryogen

Sanity_Saviour wrote: »

Despite it producing truly fantastic knockout stages?

Were they?

Saw some highlights, only interest I had/have is Mario Gomez back e/w to be top scorer, but thats pretty much fcuked now, he wont win like but he should be safe for me in terms of e/w anyway.

Sanity_Saviour

kryogen wrote: »

Were they?

Saw some highlights, only interest I had/have is Mario Gomez back e/w to be top scorer, but thats pretty much fcuked now, he wont win like but he should be safe for me in terms of e/w anyway.

I'm sure that made sense to you, try make a sensible point in future.

kryogen

When your over 18 you may understand the concept of sports betting possibly

HazDanz

Really looking forward to this one. I think Real have the edge but only just. The Germans will not go down without a serious fight.

kryogen

HazDanz wrote: »

Really looking forward to this one. I think Real have the edge but only just. The Germans will not go down without a serious fight.

This is true alright, at home they will give Madrid a serious game I think, but Madrid are deadly on the counter attack which I think will be what kills Munich

HazDanz

kryogen wrote: »

This is true alright, at home they will give Madrid a serious game I think, but Madrid are deadly on the counter attack which I think will be what kills Munich

Aye, but the lads are not too bad on the counter either How they will try to restrict the supply of ball to ronaldo will be interesting.

kryogen

HazDanz wrote: »

Aye, but the lads are not too bad on the counter either How they will try to restrict the supply of ball to ronaldo will be interesting.

Thats the problem for teams playing Madrid, you can put two or three guys on Ronnie, that just leaves more space for Kaka, Alonso Di Maria etc to hurt you!

Plus, Ronnie more often then not finds a way regardless.

Robben will need to be on top form for Bayern, Ribery and Gomez too obviously.

RiseToTheTop

I have not seen Bayern much, but it has been said they are very good attacking (which from their front 3 I say so) but they are weak at the back. Anyone think this?

Good point Blatter about if Bayern where up with Real/Barca they'd win the Bundesliga easily enough, it's certainly a valid point.

Bodhisopha

Real are a level or two above Bayern who have been overhyped by many since playing City off the park. I expect Real to win fairly comfortably.

Giggsy11

Read about Bayern Vs Madrid rivalry in Guardian (I think), didn't know there was so much between them. Hoping for a high scoring open end to end game.

RiseToTheTop

It bears a resemblance to the World Cup 2010. Germany doing superb, scoring big every game, 4-0 against Argentina, a couple of more 4-0's.

But then the met Spain in the semi's and weren't able to perform. I wonder if the same will happen tonight?

Rekop dog

Think this has to be the most excited I've been about a match all season. Strangely we haven't seen Mou's Madrid face that many of the genuine top European teams last few seasons in knockout stages Barca aside, so it will be fun seeing them pitted against a rival they haven't faced in years and the challenges that will bring.

Sgt Pepper 64

Mourinho vs Chelsea in the final - It is DESTINY!

Morzadec

Bodhisopha wrote: »

Real are a level or two above Bayern who have been overhyped by many since playing City off the park. I expect Real to win fairly comfortably.

A lot of people thinking Bayern have a chance, but I'm sorry I think Barca and Real are just a cut above at the moment. I will be very surprised if we don't see a Clasico final.

I'm very anti-Madridista but I want to see the Clasico final, it will be if nothing else, very dramatic. They are the 2 best teams at the moment and it'll be fitting that they play in the final, not the semis like last year.

Bayern might get something tonight, maybe a score draw is on the cards, 1-1 or 2-2, but Madrid will win comfortably rnough in the Bernabeu by a 2 goal margin. That's my prediction anyway

eZe^

Real are too good, they'll go through, but in the final I'd still (as either a Chelsea or Barca fan) prefer to face Bayern at their home ground, so let's go Munich.

Fizman

Blatter wrote: »

Bayern will be found out over these two legs imo. They're a good side that can be lethal on their day but there's a false perception that they're up there with Barca/Real. If they were as good as that they'd be strolling through the Bundesliga, yet they're struggling.

I'd go along with this. I watched the Dortmund/Bayern game last week and Bayern certainly are not up to the level of Barca and Real. They were incredibly toothless in that match, for a team with an inform Gomez/Ribery/Robben, that's worrying when facing opposition like Real. Another slightly worrying stat was that there were no yellow cards in that game.....a top of the table title decider! I'm not expecting 10+ cards, but it's an indication of how things are there. They really miss a Van Bommel type player. Muller was completely anonymous and I'd be surprised if that changed against Madrid.

I think they are incredibly suspect at the back. I like their full backs, particularly Lahm, but hey have a poor CB partnership imo, and there is a real possibility that over the 2 legs, Real could go to town with them. Schweinsteiger not being fit is a massive factor. He is by far and away their best midfielder.

Looking at the odds there, I'm very tempted to put big bucks on a Barca/Real final @ 4/6.

kevohmsford

I am suprised people are writing Bayern Munich off so quickly. Sure Real Madrid are a quality side but this will be a class game of football.
Bayern well capable of an upset.

That_Guy

Is this on Sky by any chance? Really don't fancy watching it on TV3.

Fizman

That_Guy wrote: »

Is this on Sky by any chance? Really don't fancy watching it on TV3.

Yup, on SS2.

Sgt Pepper 64

Morzadec wrote: »

A lot of people thinking Bayern have a chance, but I'm sorry I think Barca and Real are just a cut above at the moment. I will be very surprised if we don't see a Clasico final.

I'm very anti-Madridista but I want to see the Clasico final, it will be if nothing else, very dramatic. They are the 2 best teams at the moment and it'll be fitting that they play in the final, not the semis like last year.

Bayern might get something tonight, maybe a score draw is on the cards, 1-1 or 2-2, but Madrid will win comfortably rnough in the Bernabeu by a 2 goal margin. That's my prediction anyway

That sort of "writing off a team" attitude always amuses me.
On paper or otherwise, its dangerous to assume anything and football\life would be very boring if the favourites always won

Look at wigan at arsenal for example!

Its a cup game and anything could happen, even in the bernabeu.
I admit the odds are in RM's favour but I would never totally assume

Nuri Sahin

One of those rare moments I'll be supporting Bayern tonight, feel dirty saying that

Love that people are ruling out Bayern completely. I'll be a tad surprised if Real don't go through over 2 legs with the home leg being the 2nd game but even still, at The Allianz Arena they certainly can get a result where many of the best performances have come in Europe this season. Whether they will is a game if's and but's, just have to wait and see. Some of the comments above have me rooting for Bayern anyway.

kryogen

apologies if I offended your Bundesliga sentimentalities with anything I said, but I am hugely confident Madrid will go through comfortably, I would like to see the game be competitive, and I have acknowledged the Munich can be lethal at home. Just see Madrid as the superior team, by quite a bit really.

Of course Munich are capable of an upset, its a game of football, but Madrid have the players and the manager and should really have enough to go through comfortably enough over the 2 legs

Nuri Sahin

Nah, nah you're entitled to your opinion of course. If anyone thinks Real will win comfortably over 2 legs fair enough, but it really wouldn't surprise me if Bayern got a result tonight. As was said above, only need to see results from last night (Wigan beating Arsenal, Getafe tearing Sevilla apart) to see anything can happen, but as I eluded to myself, I do see Real going through over the 2 legs.

kryogen

You had to bring up the Sevilla game didnt you

Im off to cry again for a bit, let down big style!!!

Ganymede Glow

Real Madrid to win by two clear goals tonight

evad_lhorg

I think Real will win over both legs very easily. I did say Bayern would win the champions league at the very beginning but I cant see it happening now. They need their big players to perform out of their skin to win this tie I think and Robben and RIbery have been off the pace recently and Gomez needs their supplu.

LuckyLloyd

Real are going to make the big statement tonight.

eZe^

kryogen wrote: »

apologies if I offended your Bundesliga sentimentalities with anything I said, but I am hugely confident Madrid will go through comfortably, I would like to see the game be competitive, and I have acknowledged the Munich can be lethal at home. Just see Madrid as the superior team, by quite a bit really.

Of course Munich are capable of an upset, its a game of football, but Madrid have the players and the manager and should really have enough to go through comfortably enough over the 2 legs

Madrid have assembled the greatest squad of players ever tbh. The strength and depth there is ridiculous.

Turtyturd

Think this one should be the more competitive of the two semi-finals, still see Madrid winning over the two legs but hopefully it is a decent tie.

Warper

Bayern beating Real is not that much of an upset. Bayern are arguably the third best team in Europe atm and with the final in Munich they will be extremely difficult to beat. They have world class players bar a shaky enough defense at times but Neuer is awesome.

Tonights game is 50-50. Bayern have thrown in the towel in the Bundesliga and rested players at the weekend whereas Real cannot afford to rest people in La Liga with Barca breathing down their necks and El Clasico this Sat. Bayern also have a great record over Real. I'll go Munich 3-1 tonight and all to play for next week.

Oat23

I think Madrid will get a score draw tonight then a slim victory in Spain, unfortunately. Happy to be proved wrong by Bayern.

They've given up on the league and Dortmund will wrap it up with a win this weekend. So Bayern will be a lot fresher for the two games.

CongoPowers

My gut feeling is that Bayern will win tonight. They need to. Wouldn't have much hope for them without a lead to take to the Bernabéu.

gimmick

eZe^ wrote: »

Madrid have assembled the greatest squad of players ever tbh. The strength and depth there is ridiculous.

Given the money they have spent over the last 3 years, for Real not to win the CL this season along with the league is nothing but abject failure for them.

That_Guy

9/2 for Gomez to score first. Tempting... Very tempting.

bradlente

Hopefully it lives up to the hype.So many great players on show but if one manager sets out to play cautiously we won't get the epic many expect.

2-1 Real

RiseToTheTop

Real Madrid have only lost 1 of their previous 22 Champions League games.

I'm glad to see when there are haters in the building, it means something good is happening with Real.

NinjaK

Would like to see Real win this, an all Spain final would be great.

markie29

Would love to see bayern win but they have been very poor lately .....real madrid to win 5-3 on agg

willmunny1990

I think Madrid will beat them comfortably enough over two legs.

Madrid will be to much for Bayern imo.

dagdha

RiseToTheTop wrote: »

Real Madrid have only lost 1 of their previous 22 Champions League games.

I'm glad to see when there are haters in the building, it means something good is happening with Real.

??
Why are you calling people haters when they are giving their opinion on what they think will be the outcome of the match/tie? The majority of people on this thread have said they think Real will get through. Do you consider these posters haters towards Bayern?

RandolphEsq

If Marcelo plays then Robben will have great joy down that wing. Gomez will bully Pepe and Ramos.

T-b0n3

Munich team v Real Madrid: Neuer, Lahm, Badstuber, Boateng, Alaba, Gustavo, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Kroos, Ribery, Gomez

Madrid team v Bayern Munich: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao; Khedira, Xabi Alonso; Ronaldo, Ozil, Di Maria; Benzema