Real Madrid can taste it. The club with the most Champions League titles is in good position to pick up their fourth in fifth years. Real Madrid was able to score a victory in the first leg of their tie with Bayern Munich and a result of any sort will send them to the Champions League Final in Kyiv.
Bayern Munich know that their backs are against the wall. They are looking to win their first Champions League since 2013, but they need more than just a victory. A 1-0 win wouldn’t suffice, so they will have to put the pressure on in the offensive end. That will lead to a change in tactics from Jupp Heynckes.
Don't miss the Champions League action from Santiago Bernabeu at 2:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on FS1.
Champions League Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Bayern Munich +223
Real Madrid +105
Draw +295
Over/Under 3.5
First Leg Recap
Bayern Munich were pretty unlucky in the first leg of this tie. They controlled possession and got the better chances in their match against Real Madrid, but they were unable to capitalize.
Despite doing a good job of keeping the ball away from Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid managed to escape with a 2-1 victory. Joshua Kimmich broke open the scoring for the home side, catching Keylor Navas out of position by beating him to the near post. However, Marcelo was able to slot home a loose ball to even the score just before the break.
With Bayern hunting for another goal, a mistake at the back cost them dearly. Rafinha horribly misplayed a ball, giving Real a two-on-one break. Marco Asensio punished them for the error, calmly beating Sven Ulreich to put Los Blancos ahead for good.
After the match, Heynckes was talking about what could have been and he was right. Bayern looked like the better side, but they were punished for their mistakes and were a bit unfortunate in other areas as well.
Injuries to Watch
The other story of the first leg was injuries. Bayern Munich had two of their stars go off with injuries in the first half, forcing the club to use two substitutions early. Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng both limped off the pitch, and each player’s status is in doubt for the second leg of this tie. Javi Martinez came off for the hosts in the second half as well, and he may not be available either.
Real Madrid did not escape Munich without some injuries of their own. Nacho has been out for a while now, and the team’s other right back was banged up in this one too. Dani Carvajal is expected to play in the second leg as of now, but he is certainly not at full strength. Isco also suffered an injury too.
Key Player
There is going to be a lot of pressure on Franck Ribery in this one. Ribery did not have a good performance in the first leg of this tie, missing a number of golden opportunities. The winger could have scored once or twice, but he was unable to beat Navas and made a mess of his other chances.
With so many other stars banged up, Ribery needs to play well this time around. Bayern Munich is looking for a spark, and he is usually one of the players that can provide it.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Real Madrid have looked vulnerable. Although they continue to beat the top teams in Europe, this team has not looked infallible during their run through the Champions League. However, Bayern Munich is too banged up to take advantage of Real Madrid’s performances. The club is also without superstar Arturo Vidal, and they just won’t be able to score the goals needed to advance.
Champions League Odds: Real Madrid 1, Bayern Munich 1
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