Real Madrid - Bayern Munich, a formality for the Madrilenians?

Real Madrid - Bayern Munich, a formality for the Madrilenians? (LIVE commented at 8:45 pm)

À un pas du sommet ! Real Madrid et Bayern Munich ont en vue la finale de Kiev, ce mardi en demi-finale retour de Champions League. Mais malgré l'aller (1-2), Zinédine Zidane s'attend à cravacher "comme jamais" pour atteindre sa troisième finale d'affilée.

Nothing is played, repeated the French coach Real. Zizou sees in this matchup at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium the highest march to pass this season for the double European Champions in title, which aim at the Everest of a historic treble.

"We are playing the game of the year," said Zinedine Zidane, before warning everyone on Monday: "We must be ready, as ever, to make a great match."

But Bayern does not say anything else: "We have to achieve our best performance of the season," said club boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

At home, Real has not been very sovereign in recent months, including quarterback against Juventus mid-April (1-3 defeat with a penalty in extremis to qualify).

And the memory of the quarterback 2017 against Bayern worries: the Munich had managed to lead 1-2 Bernabeu, forcing the extension and bowing only ten against eleven with a goal of Cristiano Ronaldo (4-2) .

Last week, Bayern was dominating and clumsy, dominated and realistic Real. And it looks set for the 26th edition of this classic European football.

"The key is to think about winning this game, to enter the field to win it, not to back down, not to speculate, not to do weird things," said Zinedine Zidane.

On this thin ridge line, Real has the advantage of being a regular at these altitudes.

In two and a half seasons on the merengue bench, "Coach Zizou" has never lost a double confrontation in C1. Despite the loss of the title of champion of Spain in favor of Barça, his opponent next Sunday in the clasico of Liga, Real has won 8 trophies out of 12 possible since January 2016.

Can the "King of Europe" win his thirteenth C1, or "Decimotercera"? This would be the first time since Juventus (1996-1998) that the same team reached three finals in a row.

And in case of triumph in Kiev on May 26, the Real de Zidane would mark an era of domination, such as Bayern from the years 1974-1976 (three coronations) or the great Milan (three titles and two other finals between 1989 and 1995).

"He's a huge coach," commented captain Sergio Ramos. "Even though we have often doubted it, the charts speak for him and that closes a lot of valves."

Zinedine Zidane minimizes her contribution. "More competent coaches than me, there are shovels," the French responds modestly.

Anyway, the waiting is great among the Merengue people, who planned to meet around the stadium on Tuesday before the meeting to raise the pressure. And with 4,300 Bavarian supporters expected, some 2,100 police officers must be mobilized for this match classified as "high risk" by the authorities.

On the field, Real will be able to count on his striker Ronaldo, author of 15 goals in C1 this season, two lengths from his own record (17 goals in the 2013-2014 edition).

The Madrilenian infirmary was emptied at the right moment as defender Nacho (thigh) and attacking midfielder Isco (shoulder), announced packages, trained normally Sunday and Monday. Nacho's return could be crucial for Dani Carvajal's right-back orphan (thigh), but Zidane reiterates that he does not want to take chances with players coming back from injury.

On the Munich side, defender Jerome Boateng and winger Arjen Robben are absent. David Alaba and Javi Martinez, they seem operational and the Colombian James Rodriguez, former Real, found the Bernabeu stadium with appetite.

On the banks of Real and Bayern, the shock also opposes two impressive series: the German coach Jupp Heynckes, crowned in 1998 with Real then in 2013 with Bayern, has always reached the final of the C1 in three participations. And Zinedine Zidane has always won. Mind the step !

The probable composition of the teams

Real Madrid: Keylor Navas - Lucas Vazquez (or Nacho), Varane, Ramos, Marcelo - Modric, Casemiro, Kroos - Asensio, Benzema, Cristian