Bayern with it All to Do in Madrid

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The 2017/18 UEFA Champions League has reached the critical semi-final, second leg stage and there is no more room for error as the teams aim to book their place in the final.

The first semi-final second leg will be played on Tuesday night as Real Madrid host Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu.  Real Madrid will come into this match believing they have what it takes to reach the final, having done so in each of their previous two seasons.

Bayern Munich last played in the Champions League final back in 2012/13 when they defeated fellow Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. They have their work cut out to do the same this season.

Real Madrid come into this match having defeated Leganes 2-1 at home in La Liga on Saturday.  Zinedine Zidane named a much-changed team to the one which played against Bayern Munich in the first leg but it was good enough to get the job done.

The domestic league title is out of reach for Real Madrid and has been for some time but trends show they are unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions and have lost just one of their last twelve.

However, home form has not been great and Real Madrid have won only one of their last four matches at the Bernabeu, which was the La Liga win over Leganes at the weekend. Previously, Real Madrid have been held to 1-1 draws by Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club plus lost 3-1 to Juventus in the Champions League.

Both teams have scored in each of Real Madrid’s last six home matches.

Bayern Munich had the Bundesliga title wrapped up some time ago and rested players in their 4-1 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend.  That result means Bayern Munich return to winning ways ahead of this game and trends show they have won seven of their last nine matches in all competitions.

The most disappointing recent results for Bayern Munich have some on home soil and they have been held to a 0-0 draw by Sevilla and lost the first leg of this tie, 2-1, to Real Madrid.

Away from home, Bayern Munich have been in better form and have won each of their last four away games in all competitions, including a 2-1 win at Sevilla in the Champions League.  Trends show Bayern Munich have won twelve of their last thirteen away games in all competitions and each of their last four in the Champions League.

Bayern Munich have scored 2 or more goals in each of their last four away Champions League matches.

Team news and Real Madrid will be without the injured duo of Isco and Daniel Carvajal.  With Nacho also struggling for fitness, Lucas Vazquez may be forced to play at right-back.  Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos will return to the team having been rested on the weekend.

Bayern Munich are expected to be without Jerome Boateng and Arjen Robben who join Arturo Vidal on the treatment table.  Niklas Sule and Thiago Alcantara are expected to take their place in defence and midfield respectively.

Real Madrid are in the driving seat and using their vast experience of this situation, should have enough to win this game.  However, Bayern Munich could make it difficult by scoring at least one away goal.