Dafayanuidiris
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The last time these two European giants faced off was just a week ago in Munich, where they played to an intense 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena. Now, Real Madrid has home-field advantage, and the winner will either play Borussia Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
In that first leg, Real Madrid took the lead early with a goal by Vinicius Junior, but Bayern Munich struck back with goals from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane, turning the game around. Vinicius scored again after Kim Min-jae fouled Rodrygo in the box, tying the match at 2-2 and setting up a nail-biting return leg.
While Real Madrid returned to Spain to secure a record-tying La Liga title after a 3-0 win over Cadiz and Barcelona's loss to Girona, Bayern Munich's journey took a different turn. The German side saw their Bundesliga title hopes slip away after losing to Bayer Leverkusen, leaving them fighting just to finish in the top three.
Bayern's struggles continued as they lost 3-1 to Stuttgart, with Harry Kane's 36th goal of the Bundesliga season being one of the few bright spots. Bayern's defense has been shaky, losing key players to injury and failing to keep a clean sheet away from home since December. They haven't had much luck against Real Madrid in recent history, either, going 16 games without a clean sheet against them and never beating Carlo Ancelotti in nine previous attempts.
On the other hand, Real Madrid has been on a roll, having scored in 28 straight Champions League home games since a shock loss to CSKA Moscow in 2018. They are unbeaten in their last 20 matches, and it's been over a year since they've lost a home game in any competition.
This sets the stage for a thrilling clash at the Bernabeu, with only one team advancing to the final. Real Madrid, with their historic winning streaks and league title momentum, will be tough to beat, but Bayern Munich's resilience and star power could still surprise. One thing's for sure: it's going to be an exciting night of European football.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Real Madrid had a double reason to celebrate over the weekend. Not only did they secure a convincing win over Cadiz, but they also welcomed Thibaut Courtois back from his second knee injury this season. The goalkeeper, who was the hero of the 2022 Champions League final, is expected to replace Andriy Lunin in goal for Wednesday's semi-final against Bayern Munich.Courtois's return, along with Dani Carvajal's end to his European suspension, means that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has nearly a full squad to choose from, with the only notable absence being former Bayern defender David Alaba, who is sidelined for this crucial second leg.
Given that Ancelotti used a second-string lineup for the Cadiz match, the likes of Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Toni Kroos, and Federico Valverde are all set to return to the starting eleven. However, Eder Militao, who is still working his way back to top form after his ACL injury, might not start.
On the other side, Bayern Munich's injury list is still a concern. Raphael Guerreiro, who was injured against Stuttgart, is likely out for the rest of the season. Eric Dier, who had been dealing with a thigh injury, had to leave the game at halftime after sustaining a head injury, but his exit was mainly precautionary. He's expected to be ready for the Bernabeu clash. Meanwhile, Matthijs de Ligt is nearing recovery from a knee problem and could also be available for selection.
However, Bayern has other injury troubles. Kingsley Coman is dealing with a groin injury and won't play on Wednesday. Additionally, Sacha Boey (hip), Bouna Sarr (ACL), and Tarek Buchmann (hamstring) are out, leaving coach Thomas Tuchel with some gaps to fill.
With both teams having their own challenges to overcome, the second leg is shaping up to be a tense and unpredictable affair at the Bernabeu.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Kroos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Dier, De Ligt, Mazraoui; Goretzka, Laimer; Sane, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane
EXPERT PREDICTION
Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich might have almost all their key players back as their injury list shrinks, but they've been a mess defensively when playing away from home in 2024. If they can't shore up their backline, those weaknesses could be their downfall, giving Real Madrid the edge they need to book their ticket to Wembley.
