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Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich. UEFA Champions League Semi-Final.

Santiago BernabeuAttendance77,459.

Real Madrid 2

  • K Benzema (11th minute, 46th minute)

Bayern Munich 2

  • J Kimmich (3rd minute)
  • J Rodríguez (63rd minute)

4-3

Real Madrid v Bayern preview: Zinedine Zidane wants holders to attack Bavarians

Marcelo is congratulated by team-mates after equalising for Real Madrid
Image: Marcelo (centre) is congratulated by team-mates after equalising for Real Madrid in the first leg

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has said his side will look to attack Bayern Munich quickly in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final, second leg as they seek to remain on course for an unprecedented third consecutive European Cup.

Real hold a 2-1 lead after the first leg in Germany last week, however the Frenchman insists the job is nowhere near complete.

"The key for us is think about winning the game and go onto the pitch wanting to do that. We need to go out to score quickly and that's what we'll try to do," Zidane told a news conference.

"It's a semi-final, we know how important it is and what we have to do. We don't have to change what we're doing.

Zinedine Zidane prior to the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final, First Leg between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena on April 25, 2018
Image: Real boss Zinedine Zidane has urged the holders to attack Bayern

"Our focus and determination will be there - we don't need to change much - what we did in the first leg was good, but we now need to show in the return that what we want is to go through."

With regular right-back Dani Carvajal missing with a hamstring problem, Zidane faces a selection headache given replacement Nacho has sat out the past month with a thigh injury.

Local media reports indicate winger Lucas Vazquez could be asked to deputise, however, no decision will be made until Tuesday. Midfielder Isco is also a doubt following a shoulder problem.

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Highlights of Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Leganes at the weekend

"Nacho has been out, but trained a lot recently, and today he was with us and he's ready to go in that respect," Zidane said. "We have time ahead of the game and we'll think about what we're going to do."

Meanwhile, Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes has defended top-scorer Robert Lewandowski following his lack of Champions League goals.

Poland striker Lewandowski has scored 39 times in all competitions this season but failed to find the net in his last four European games, including last week's first-leg defeat.

Heynckes, a striker during his playing days, has backed his star forward to rediscover top form.

Franck Ribery controls the ball
Image: Bayern go into the game with a 2-1 deficit from the first leg

"Lewy has my complete support. Every striker, including myself, has phases where they don't score," said Heynckes at his pre-match press conference.

"But he has scored a lot of goals this season and you can't forget that he once scored four goals against Real in the semi-final of the Champions League for Dortmund.

"So who knows what'll happen tomorrow?"

Heynckes, however, is unconcerned about that statistic and called for his players to be more clinical after they wasted a number of opportunities last week.

"The past isn't important," he said.

"We have to be more efficient than in the first leg. We've scored goals all season and I hope we'll see that clinicalness tomorrow that's been a mark of our game all year.

"We attacked in Munich and only conceded two because of mistakes by our players. It had nothing to do with being open or a lack of organisation.

"It could come down to little things tomorrow, so players need to remain alert and limit any possible mistakes.

"We want to do things differently from the first leg - which includes scoring."

Cristiano Ronaldo keeps his eye on the ball during the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final, First Leg between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena on April 25, 2018
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid are looking for a third straight Champions League title

The German club have a poor recent record against the La Liga side, losing six in a row, including last season's two-legged quarter-final.

Heynckes, however, is unconcerned about that statistic and called for his players to be more clinical after they wasted a number of opportunities last week.

"The past isn't important," he said.

"We have to be more efficient than in the first leg. We've scored goals all season and I hope we'll see that clinical nature tomorrow that's been a mark of our game all year.

"We attacked in Munich and only conceded two because of mistakes by our players. It had nothing to do with being open or a lack of organisation.

"It could come down to little things tomorrow, so players need to remain alert and limit any possible mistakes.

"We want to do things differently from the first leg - which includes scoring."

Team news

Real should have playmaker Isco available after the Spain international trained on Monday having recovered from a shoulder problem.

But right-back Carvajal is set to miss out after injuring his hamstring in Wednesday's first leg at the Allianz Arena.

Arjen Robben suffers an early injury
Image: Arjen Robben suffered an early injury in the first leg

Meanwhile, Bayern will be without wide man Robben and defender Boateng after the duo picked up injuries in last week's first leg.

However, both left-back Alaba (thigh) and midfielder Martinez (head) should feature after recovering from thigh and head knocks, respectively.

Opta stats

  • No team has ever overturned a 2-1 home first-leg defeat in the Champions League, in seven previous such occurrences.
  • Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will meet for the 26th time in European competition, more than any other fixture. Real Madrid have now won 12 of these encounters to Bayern's 11 victories (2 draws).
  • Bayern Munich have lost their last six games against Real Madrid (all in the knockout stages of the Champions League), their longest ever run of defeats against one opponent in European competition. Their last away win against Real was in May 2001, in the Champions League semis (1-0, goal by Giovane Elber).
  • Real Madrid have scored in each of their last 41 Champions League games at the Bernabeu, last failing to find the net in April 2011 against Barcelona (0-2). In that run, they've won 34 games, drawn five and lost only two, including their latest outing against Juventus in this year's quarter-finals (1-3).
  • Under Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid have never been knocked out in the Champions League, progressing in all eight of their two-legged Champions League ties as well as winning the two finals they've appeared in. They've also won seven of their eight knockout games at home (L1).

Charlie's prediction

I think Bayern are still in this because they can't play as bad as they did at the Allianz Arena. Their first leg was one of the worst Champions League semi-finals I've seen.

Bayern didn't half miss some chances, but that's what pressure can do to you, just like how the nerves got to Real in their second leg quarter-final against Juventus.

With Cristiano Ronaldo's goal record virtually guaranteeing you a goal every game, that could be enough to see them through again.

I don't think Jerome Boateng, David Alaba or Arjen Robben will make it, which dents Bayern's chances, but I suspect they may take the tie to extra time, only for Ronaldo to deliver the decisive winner and swing the Ballon d'Or back in his favour over Mohamed Salah again.

Charlie predicts: 1-2 and Lewandowski to score first (35/1 with Sky Bet)

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