"He'll play and score" - Thomas Tuchel makes bullish claim on Bayern Munich attacker ahead of Real Madrid UCL showdown
Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel reckons attacker Serge Gnabry will be available and score against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
The two sides lock horns in a blockbuster last-four clash, with the first leg at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday (April 30). Ahead of the clash with the record 14-time champions, Tuchel has a few potential injury worries.
The deposed Bundesliga champions are sweating on the fitness of defender Dayot Upamecano and Leroy Sane. However, there are seemingly no such worries for winger Gnabry.
"Serge (Gnabry) will be available on Tuesday," Tuchel said about the winger (as per Forbes). "I think he'll play and score".
Upamecano, though, appears doubtful for the Bundesliga clash at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday (April 27), with Tuchel saying:
"Dayot Upamecano has unfortunately twisted his ankle in training. It’s very painful, and he’s a doubt for tomorrow. We have to wait."
Meanwhile, Sane has been deemed 'day-to-day,' with the outgoing boss saying:
"It’s a race against time for Tuesday. He’s training individually. I can’t make a prediction right now."
Tuchel also added that Jamal Musiala is set to start against Frankfurt as he thanked the club's physios:
"He feels free and has trained well. He’s a key player for us no matter the opponent."
Bayern are determined to avoid a first trophyless season in more than a decade, having seen their Bundesliga stranglehold ended by Bayer Leverkusen. Tuchel's side also lost the German Super Cup final and exited early in the DFB-Pokal.
What happened when Bayern Munich last played Real Madrid?
Bayern Munich have a rousing rivalry with Real Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti's side enjoying a slender 12-11 advantage in 26 meetings in the UEFA Champions League.
The two European giants last clashed in the competition in the 2017-18 semifinals. Los Blancos won the first leg 2-1 in Germany, with Joshua Kimmich's opener for Bayern cancelled out by Marcelo and Marco Asensio.
In the return leg, Zinedine Zidane's side drew 2-2. Kimmich again scored early for Bayern, but Karim Benzema's brace put Madrid in the driving seat. Although James Rodriguez pulled one back in the 63rd minute to draw parity on the night, Madrid held on for a 4-3 aggregate win.
Real Madrid would go on to win a record-extending 13th Champions League triumph, beating Liverpool 3-1 in the final, thanks to Gareth Bale's brace and a strike from Benzema, while Sadio Mane scored for the Reds.