With a second consecutive league title within reach, Bayern Munich is now fully focused on cup competitions until the season concludes. The victors of this encounter will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, while Bayern also competes against Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Pokal. Head coach Vincent Kompany has the potential to replicate the achievements of Jupp Heynckes and Hansi Flick by securing an unprecedented treble.
Holding a narrow one-goal advantage after their 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu last Tuesday, Bayern is in a strong position to pursue their seventh Champions League title.
The six-time European champions demonstrated their dominance following their impressive performance in Madrid by comprehensively defeating St Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday, even with several key players rested. A formidable bench in Hamburg included stars like Harry Kane, Aleksander Pavlović, and Dayot Upamecano, none of whom were brought on by Kompany, as the three points were secured well before the hour mark.
Their opponents from the Spanish capital, 15-time winners of the competition, had a less convincing return to league action on Friday evening, drawing 1-1 with Girona. While Real Madrid also rested some key players, their lineup still featured prominent figures such as Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Júnior.
Following Manuel Neuer’s Man of the Match performance in the first leg, Kompany lauded his veteran goalkeeper: “It wasn’t just experience, it was quality. He was very agile, which he only manages because he does so much for his body during the week. He makes it look so easy. You see these saves, which all look so safe, but they’re difficult moments for a goalkeeper. We needed that, and we’ll need those moments again in the coming weeks.”
The 40-year-old goalkeeper will need to be at his absolute best again on Wednesday. With the visitors needing to overturn the deficit, Bayern can anticipate a significant onslaught of Real Madrid attacks. Kompany acknowledges the threat posed by Real, stating before the first leg: “Every team at this level is dangerous. We want to not concede any goals and score at least one. There’s no specific game plan against a team like Real. We have a lot of topics that we’re attending to. I hope we have enough answers up our sleeve.”
Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid Team News
Barring any last-minute setbacks, Harry Kane is almost certain to start. However, the selection for the players supporting him remains a point of discussion. Serge Gnabry was absent from the squad in Hamburg on Saturday due to a knee issue, and it is uncertain if he will be fit enough for an immediate return. Raphaël Guerreiro, who started in Gnabry’s place, made a strong case for his inclusion by securing the points as the clock neared 90 minutes. Jamal Musiala is the natural choice for the number 10 role, but given his lengthy injury layoff, questions remain about his readiness to play two games in the space of five days.
The visitors will be without Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo due to injury, and Aurélien Tchouaméni is suspended.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid Predicted Lineups
Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer – Josip Stanisic, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Konrad Laimer – Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović – Luis Diaz, Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise – Harry Kane
Real Madrid: Andriy Lunin – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rudiger, Alvaro Carreras – Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham – Arder Guler, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
