Champions League semi-final preview: Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid

Bayern Munich’s sole hope of salvaging a sorry season reaches a crescendo at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night; the Bavarian club host Real Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final.

If Thomas Tuchel can steer his side to their seventh Champions League trophy, the trophy-free domestic campaign – not to mention all those “curse of Kane” jibes – will be forgotten.

Bayern have won four on the bounce

And Bayern’s experience in this tournament holds them in good stead. But in Real Madrid, the German side are taking on the club that have won the Champions League 14 times in total – more than any other football team.

At least Bayern are looking more like their old selves; they’ve won four on the bounce in all competitions – including the win over Arsenal that got them to this point.

And Harry Kane’s brace against Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend took his total goals scored to 42 in all comps this season. That’s a personal record for the Englishman.

But Real appear to have forgotten how to lose; their last defeat in any competition came in September. They got to this point by knocking out reigning champions Manchester City at the Etihad on penalties; Carlo Ancelotti’s side are clearly capable of leaving Bayern, well, cryin’. Yes, James Richardson probably got there first.

Real have a habit of beating Bayern

Alarmingly for Bayern, Real have a habit of beating the Bavarians, too. Bayern have failed to win any of their last seven encounters with the Madrid side, losing six of those. Can this be different?

With the visitors having drawn each of their last three Champions League games, Ancelotti could be willing to settle for another stalemate on Tuesday, gambling on his side getting the job done in the second leg.

The draw is a 13/5 shot; otherwise, you could consider backing Rodrygo to score for Real. The Brazilian has four goals in his last four appearances, scoring home and away against City in the Champions League quarter-finals. Rodrygo is 41/20 to score.

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