Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid. UEFA Champions League Quarter Final.
Allianz ArenaAttendance70,000.
Wednesday 12 April 2017 18:59, UK
European giants Bayern Munich and Real Madrid go head to head in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday evening.
The German side welcome their Spanish counterparts for the first leg this week before the return fixture at the Bernabeu on April 18.
It will also see ex-Real boss Carlo Ancelotti face the La Liga side for the first time since his departure in 2015, with his former assistant - Zinedine Zidane - now the permanent manager.
Ancelotti won the Champions League at Real in 2014, before Zidane claimed the trophy last season for the 11-time winners, while Bayern Munich are Europe's joint third most successful team having been crowned champions on five occasions.
But the last time the Bundesliga winners played Real at the Allianz Arena, they suffered their biggest ever European home defeat when they were beaten 4-0 in April 2014, which was also the last time their lost on their own turf in the Champions League.
Both sides are missing key defenders for the clash
Mats Hummels was ruled out after damaging ankle ligaments on Sunday, so Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez are expected to form the centre-back partnership.
Real will have defenders Pepe and Raphael Varane ruled out of both legs. The former suffered a double rib fracture in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid, while the latter is out for a month with a hamstring injury.
Right-back Daniel Carvajal trained on his own on Monday and is struggling with a knock.
Bayern received a boost on Monday with Manuel Neuer back in training following a minor foot operation ten days ago, while Thomas Mueller (ankle) and Robert Lewandowski (bruised shoulder) will be avaliable.
This is the 23rd European Cup/Champions League fixture between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid - the 17th under the Champions League era - a record in the history of the tournament.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are perfectly level in their European Cup/Champions League knockout encounters, progressing five times each.
Bayern Munich have averaged 70% possession, the highest ratio in this season's Champions League. The Bavarian side have dominated that ranking every season since 2013/14.
This is the 20th consecutive season in which Real Madrid have made it to the Champions League knockout stages, a record in the competition - they have reached the semis in each of the last 6 seasons.
Real Madrid, alongside Juventus, are the only unbeaten team in this season's Champions League. They have also only lost one of their last 10 knockout games (W6 D3), it was against Wolfsburg in April 2016 (0-2).
Robert Lewandowski has scored in each of his last three Champions League games - he's never done four in a row in the competition.
Sergio Ramos' last six goals in the Champions League have all been scored in the knockout stages of the competition, including his headed brace against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in April 2014. If he plays, it will be his 99th game in the competition.
Zinedine Zidane has managed to pick Real Madrid up despite Cristiano Ronaldo not really doing it at the same level this season, with Sergio Ramos all too often having to save them.
Bayern will feel like they can get at Zidane's defence, with Robert Lewandowski too much of a handful against Real's back four, who for all their experience are both still rash under pressure.
I'm expecting quite a physical contest here and I'd be looking at backing plenty of yellow cards, and Bayern, with the ability to handle that physical element, capable of establishing a decent advantage.
Charlie predicts: 3-1 and Lewandowski to score first - 28/1 with Sky Bet
Bayern Munich are Sky Bet's 3/4 favourites to win the first leg with Real Madrid 100/30 for the victory and 29/10 to take a draw back to the Bernabeu. The German giants are also odds-on to reach the semi-finals and a shorter price to lift the trophy at 3/1, with Zinedine Zidane's men 11/2 to defend their title.
Robert Lewandowski heads the first goalscorer market at 11/4 while Cristiano Ronaldo is available at 6/1 to break the deadlock in Sky Bet's Price Boosts
