Impossible Task for Bayern in the Bernabeu
The second leg of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals follows on just one week after the first and Bayern Munich have it all to do as they travel to Spain to play Real Madrid.
The first leg ended 2-1 in favour of the Spanish giants in the Allianz Arena, having come back from 1-0 down at the interval. Things could have been much worse for Real Madrid, with Arturo Vidal having the chance to add to his and Bayern’s tally from the penalty spot but blazing over the bar.
The second half was a different story to the first and Real Madrid got themselves back in the match with an equaliser from Ronaldo on 47 minutes. Then, with just over an hour gone in the game, Javi Martinez picked up his second yellow card and received his marching orders.
With Bayern down to ten men it was only a matter of time before the visitors made the extra man count and Ronaldo grabbed his second goal of the game with 13 minutes left on the clock. It was a great result for Zinedine Zidane and his players but has left Bayern with a lot of work to do in the second leg.
Trends show Real Madrid are unbeaten in their previous eleven games in all competitions. However, it’s Real Madrid’s home record which has been hugely impressive this season and they have lost just one game in front of their own fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, which was in the Copa del Rey. This fact underlines what a huge task Bayern have on their hands.
Furthermore, Real Madrid are dominant at home in the Champions League and have lost only one of their previous twenty-eight home games in the competition. Zidane will be supremely confident of getting the job done and taking his team through to the semi-final.
Carlo Ancelotti, having overseen Real Madrid himself in the past, will know just what a difficult task his current club face in the Spanish capital. Having conceded two away goals in the first leg, Bayern must score at least two goals in this match or win it by two clear goals. The last time that happened was in March 2015, when Schalke defeated Real Madrid 4-3 at the Bernabeu. The Bundesliga team were still eliminated.
Trends show Bayern have found life tough on their travels in recent months, winning three of their last six games on the road. Ancelotti’s team have been held by Hertha Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen and were defeated by Hoffenheim. In addition, Bayern have won only four of their previous fourteen away Champions League games, a sequence of results which suggests they are going to struggle to turn things around in this tie.
A look at the team news and Real Madrid are waiting on the fitness of Gareth Bale and Raphael Varane. Portuguese defender Pepe, will miss out. Bayern are hoping Robert Lewandowski will be available and are sweating on the fitness of Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng.
Team selection could prove to be a decisive factor in this match. If Bayern are without Lewandowski, their goal scoring threat is significantly diminished. Add Hummels and Boateng to the mix, plus the suspension of Martinez and Ancelotti has huge problems defensively.
Everything is pointing to a Real Madrid victory, both in this game and the tie.
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