Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich Live: UEFA Champions League live scores, blog

It’s a battle of the titans as Real Madrid host Bayern Munich in the first leg of what should be a fiercely contested Champions League semi-final. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from Wednesday 30 April 00:45 (GMT).

One team will move a step closer to creating history when the two teams play tonight at the Bernabeu.
If Real can take a lead back to Germany, they will fancy their chances of progressing to the final where the chance to win an historic 10th Champions League title awaits. Bayern, however, will have other ideas as they bid to become the first team in the Champions League era to win back-to-back titles in Europe’s premier club competition.
Although Bayern have constantly dominated possession this season, expect a more even share of possession tonight against Real.
Bayern may even sit back a little in a bid to catch Real on the counterattack. Such a tactic could be negated, however, given Real are a counterattacking team as well.
Both teams possess plenty of firepower on the break. For Real, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria are all capable of causing huge trouble against Bayern if the German outfit press too much when not in possession.

Real also have to think twice about pressing too much against a Bayern outfit featuring dangerous stars Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Phillip Lahm and David Alaba.
Overall, Ronaldo will most likely ensure that Real goes on the offensive more often today. Ronaldo is currently on 14 Champions League goals this campaign and he will be desperate to score yet again to become the highest goal scorer in a Champions League season.
With both teams very evenly matched, this is a real toss of the coin job. While Real should certainly score at home, Bayern possess enough class to nab a vital score draw.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid Live : Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

When Real Madrid were drawn against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final on 10 April, there was a strange sense of disappointment. A disappointment that this clash of two of Europe's greatest sides would not be saved for a fitting finale in Lisbon on 24 May. 
Instead, we have been treated to a compelling double-header that remains finely poised following Madrid's narrow 1-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu last week. If Madrid are to achieve that holy grail of a tenth European Cup—la decima—they must complete the most daunting of challenges: holding a rampant Bayern side at the Allianz Arena.
We have all the details you need to make sure you don't miss a moment of the action, as well as the main talking points ahead of the clash.

MatchBayern Munich vs. Real Madrid Live
Date: Wednesday, April 30
Time: 00:45GMT
Can Bayern Contain the Real Madrid Counter-Attack?

Paul Gilham/Getty Images
There's little dispute that Bayern will control possession at the Allianz Arena. Pep Guardiola's side dominated proceedings at the Bernabeu with 72 percent of possession, as well as 17 shots in comparison to Madrid's nine, as per BBC Sport.
But statistics only tell half the story.
Despite an excellent display from Iker Casillas in goal, Bayern struggled to break down Madrid and convert their dominance into goals. At the Allianz, Munich will have little option but to attack—they must score, and that in itself brings danger.
Real Madrid are Europe's greatest proponents of counter-attacking football. With an attack including Angel di Maria, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, it's not hard to see why. Madrid can eviscerate their opponents within moments. One only has to watch Gareth Bale's lung-bursting rampage through the Barcelona defence in the Copa del Rey final to understand the dangers Madrid bring.
The Times' Oliver Kay reported Pep Guardiola's comments following the first leg on Twitter:


Guardiola's challenge will be to dominate possession, while retaining sufficient cover to absorb the inevitable Madrid counter-attacks. Key to that challenge will be Bastian Schweinsteiger, who must walk a delicate tightrope between attack and defence, ensuring that Bayern are not overrun by Bale and Ronaldo.

Neuer vs. Ronaldo: Can the World's Best Goalkeeper Deny the World's Best Player?

Andres Kudacki
If Madrid score, they will most likely claim a spot in the final. That's why Manuel Neuer is so integral to Bayern's hopes.
The Germany No. 1 will be called into action, and how he responds will be a key factor as to whether Bayern go through. Ronaldo was once again in scintillating form at the weekend with two long-range goals in a 4-0 win over Osasuna, as reported by The Guardian.
The Gelsenkirchen shot-stopper missed a mid-week DFB Cup semi-final win over Kaiserlautern with a calf injury, but Bundesliga.com reports that Neuer expects to be available for the return leg.


So unfavourable is Real Madrid's record against Bayern in the Champions League that they have been nicknamed "la bestia negra" (the black beast). Of 15 clashes to date, Bayern have prevailed in eight, Madrid in six, with one draw. Not a terrible record some might say, but few clubs in Europe have a positive record against Madrid. 
La decima has become something of an obsession in the Spanish capital: That all too elusive 10th title in a competition Madrid have come to think of as their own.
But if there is one European side with as strong an affinity with the grand old trophy, it is Bayern. Three consecutive titles in the mid-'70s under the leadership of Franz Beckenbauer attest to that. Victory this year would make the Bavarian giants the first side to win consecutive Champions League titles.
Not only do these two European heavyweights have the expectation of the current generation on their shoulders; they also carry the tremendous burden of history. It will be the side that best deals with the expectation in the fierce cauldron of the Allianz Arena that will rightfully go on to Lisbon; most probably to become champions of Europe.