Bayern Munich/Real Madrid preview

I know this is way late so it’s going to be rather short but I wanted to get something up about the second semi final.

As we all know by now Real Madrid is going for their 3 consecutive title and 3rd out of 4.

Bayern Munich last won this in 2013 and the pressure has been on them win this again since. They have just clinched their 6th consecutive Bundesliga title. That’s all well and good but until they win the Champions League again people won’t be satisfied.

They’re also the only team left that can win the treble which is their domestic title, domestic cup and champions league.

No doubt for neutrals this is as mouth watering of a tie that one can dream of. The star power that will be on the pitch at once is something to dream about.

This to are familiar foes in this competition. They met in last seasons quarterfinals. Real Madrid came away with a 6-3 win on aggergate but that doesn’t even come close to telling the story of what happened.

Real Madrid got a 2-1 win in the first leg at Munich.

Munich had an amazing start to this Arturo Vidal got Munich rolling with a goal in the 25th minute but missed a penalty in extra time in the first half that could have given them a 2 goal cushion.

Of course the Ronaldo show happend he scored in the 47th minute to level things. Then Javi Martinez was sent off for a second yellow in the 61st minute. I think the comedic thing here is that he got the first yellow in the 58th minute.

Then taking advantage of the man advantage Ronaldo scored again in the 77th minute to give Madrid the 2-1 lead heading home for the second leg.

The second leg was about as wild as is it gets. But it all happened in the second half.

Robert Lewandowski got Munich on the board in the 53rd minute to level things on aggergate but at the moment Madrid would still go through on road goals.

Fast forward to the 76th minute when Ronaldo would level things on the day and give Madrid a 3-2 aggergate lead. A minute late Sergio Ramos scored an own goal to give Munich the lead and level things on aggergate. If things got to the end like this we would be going to extra time.

Of course the luck changed for Madrid as it always seems to when Arturo Vidal was given a second yellow on a play that wasn’t even a foul in the 84th minute which shifted the momentum back to Madrid.

The thing that frustrated Munich about this more than it not even being a foul is that Real Madrid center midfielder Casimero should have been out of this game by now. He picked up a yellow and had committed numerous infractions between his yellow and Vidal’s that should have sent him to the locker room.

It’s probably the biggest thing I remember about the two legs, that and Vidal’s missed penalty in the first leg. I am convinced if either of those went Munich’s way they would have won.

But they didn’t and Madrid scored 3 times in extra time to win 6-3 on aggergate. Munich ran out of gas being down a man and Madrid took advantage. Ronaldo scored twice and Asensio added the other.

It was a wild 90 minutes that saw 6 goals and 50 shots. Let’s hope the second leg this season can duplicate the excitement that happened last season.

• Injuries

Madrid comes into this healthy so expect to see a back four of Navas, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Casimero, Kroos, Modric, Isco, Benzema, and Ronaldo in the 4-4-2 diamond that Zidane has used for a couple years now.

Munich on the other hand does have injury concerns. It looks like David Alaba, Kingsley Coman, and Arturo Vidal will all be out and Corentin Tolisso is doubtful.

Munich is probably the only team in the world that could deal with the caliber of players that are missing and still send out a super strong 11. I’m thinking it will go something like this. Ulreich, Kimmich, Hummels, Boateng, Rafinha, Alcantara, Martinez, James, Muller, Ribery, and Lewandowski. In a 4-2-3-1.

• My pick

No doubt this will be fun. Anytime you get this much talent on the pitch at one time you just sit back and marvel at the greatness on display.

I’ve been on the Real Madrid isn’t as good as they were last season so they won’t win this again this season hill.

I have felt from a consistency stand point that Munich has been 1B to Man City’s 1A this season for me. Well Liverpool took care of Man City so that leaves us with with Munich.

The injuries scare me but I still think they have enough to get by Madrid.

One thing with Munich is they have had a history of getting off to poor starts in first legs. Everyone knows their history since they last win this in 2013 they have gone out to Spanish foes every season. They went out to Barcelona in 2015, Ateltico Madrid in 2016, and Real Madrid last season.

Last season they started at home but as we talked about carried a deficit on the road to Madrid on the second leg. That can’t happen this season.

Expect them to be out on the front foot and to have tons of possession in the first leg. Madrid was oblige and sit back and hope for the counter.

It will be one of those Ronaldo games where he will be likely very quiet but a good amount of the time still finds a way to bag a brace. He’s a deadly assassin in that way.

Both teams rely on their fullbacks to get up the pitch so who wins that battle over the 180 minutes will be a huge key.

Another matchup to look at is who is will Munich’s midfield 2 have issues against Madrid’s midfield three or sometimes midfield four.

I’ve been thinking Munich is going to win this practically every since their last crown. I do think with the 4 teams left they’re the best side left on paper.

I am going with them to win today.

Munich 2-1