Bayern Munich is set to face off against tournament favourites Real Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League quarter-finals as both sides look to book a place in the semi-finals.
Bayern, which looks like a complete European side, is expected to see the return of star striker Harry Kane for the all-important clash against the hosts.
Fifteen-time champions Real Madrid have endured a difficult season this year with injuries and lack of performances from their stars.
The hosts stunned another tournament favourite, Manchester City, in the round of 16 with their best performance of the season so far.
Despite Madrid’s prestige and troupe of attacking stars — Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham included, as well as City hat-trick hero Federico Valverde — Bayern are arguably favourites to lift the trophy.
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoenes said: “It would be presumptuous to assume that we’ll definitely advance, but we haven’t had such great chances in terms of playing quality as we have this year in a long time.”
English star Harry Kane, who has scored 48 goals in 40 matches across all competitions this season, missed Bayern’s 3-2 Bundesliga win at Freiburg on Saturday with an ankle issue.
“He will play with a wheelchair, but he will play in this all-important game,” said Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich.
Bayern Munich is well aware that it will have to play its skin out to beat Real Madrid at their home in front of a massive crowd and staunch Madrid fans.
“It’s the stadium and the fans who, together with the team, transform into a hurricane that sweeps over the opponent,” said Bayern powerbroker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“You need nerves of steel, you have to stay calm, and you have to be mentally prepared… it’s not just an ordinary game. It will be the toughest test.”
Two Bayern players who understand that more than most are goalkeepers Manuel Neuer and Sven Ulreich, who have both cracked in the Bernabéu pressure cooker before.
Also read: Mbappé’s double lifts Real Madrid to the top of La Liga
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