It’s a huge evening in Real Madrid’s season as they take on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena looking to make their first Champions League final in 12 years.
The competition will perhaps take on even greater importance now, as it looks highly likely that Atletico de Madrid will secure the La Liga title, needing just six points from their remaining games.
The Madrid press have gone to town on the theme around fire, after Karl Heinz Rumminegge said last week that even the trees in Munich would be burning upon Madrid’s arrival in town. AS goes with ‘Firemen’ on its front page, with mocked up image of Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo putting out a fire.
Carlo Ancelotti also made a reference to the comments by Rummenigge in his press conference yesterday, saying that Madrid expected the trees to be burning, but instead found it to be raining in Germany.
Good news for Madrid fans is that stats are on their side. Los Blancos go into the game with a 1-0 thanks to Karim Benzemas’s goal at the Santiago Bernabeu. Of the previous 938 knock out ties played in the Champions League, 60% (567) who had a first leg lead qualified for the next round.
Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos and Asier Illarramendi have to be on their best behaviour tonight, as a yellow card for any of the trio would see them sit out the final in Lisbon on May 24 if they qualify.
