Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid: 5 things to watch out for in the first leg
The two European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will go head-to-head in the first leg semifinal clash of UEFA Champions League at the Allianz Arena. Considering the firepower possessed by both the teams, it surely is going to be a treat for football fans around the world.
Bayern and Real have gone head to head 22 times in the competition's history, with Bayern winning eleven encounters and Real Madrid winning on nine occasions, along with two draws. Of late, Real have the edge over Bayern, but the Bavarians are in good form at the moment.
The star-studded lineups of both the teams reveal that a very entertaining match is on the cards.
Here are the five things one should look out for in the highly-anticipated clash.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - The UEFA Champions League goal-machine
They say that strikers become slower and lose their scoring capabilities as they age. Cristiano Ronaldo is a player who contradicts the statement. He is becoming better each day, just like fine wine. Even though he is 33 years of age, he is showing no signs of slowing down and keeps contributing to Real Madrid's run to the title.
Ronaldo has scored a total of 41 goals this season and assisted 8 times for Los Blancos. He has scored a staggering 15 goals in the Champions League and often turns out to the mastermind of his team's victory or the saviour in a tightly-contested encounter.
The world was taken aback by his bicycle kick in the first leg of the semifinal against Juventus. He proved his mettle once again by scoring the decisive penalty in the second leg, that sent Real Madrid into the semifinals.
He leads the attack with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale and is surrounded by a pool of quality players like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Isco and Marco Asensio who supply him with all the confidence and passes he needs. He is undoubtedly the 'Numero Uno' finisher at the moment.
Will Cristiano prove to be the difference for Madrid against Bayern?