Real Madrid will hope the Champions League gods rule in their favour once again this evening as they travel to Bayern Munich requiring a fightback in their quarter-final second leg.
Bayern left the Santiago Bernabeu with a 2-1 advantage last week thanks to goals from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane, though they may be left to rue their wastefulness on that night with their lead not as significant as it perhaps should be.
Kylian Mbappe tapped in from a pinpoint Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery to halve the deficit in the first leg, but it was substitute Jude Bellingham who changed the game off the bench for Los Blancos.
Bellingham has been working his way back from a hamstring injury and has therefore not started a single game since returning from a six-week absence on 22 March – but after his influential cameo last time out, Alvaro Arbeloa will have a strong case to restore the Englishman to the starting line-up in what could be a season-defining outing for Real Madrid.
Follow all the action from the Allianz Arena in our live blog below:
Real Madrid flattered by scoreline as Bayern Munich lay down Champions League gauntlet
Ahead of the secong leg this evening, here’s the report from the last week’s first leg at the Bernabeu…
Bayern travelled to the Spanish capital among the favourites to win the competition after the 10-2 aggregate demolition of Atalanta in the round of 16, and while they only take a slender one-goal lead back to Bavaria ahead of next week’s second leg, they could well have won by three or four after a frantic 90 minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu.
When is Bayern Munich v Real Madrid?
Bayern host Real Madrid at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday 15 April, with kick-off at 8pm BST.
How can I watch?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game on TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max.
Predicted line-ups
Bayern XI: Neuer, Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Olise, Gnabry, Luis Diaz, Kane
Real Madrid XI: Lunin, Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Eder Militao, Fran Garcia, Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham, Arda Guler, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Bayern team news
Bayern Munich will be without teenager Lennart Karl, who is out with a thigh injury, while Harry Kane was rested in their previous league game against St Pauli after feeling “a few reactions” after the first leg, but should be fit to feature in this crucial clash.
Madrid team news
In bad news for Real, Kylian Mbappe required stitches to a cut on his forehead after a nasty challenge from Vitor Reis in their 1-1 La Liga draw against Girona on Friday.
The Frenchman missed training on Sunday but is nonetheless expected to return for this crucial game.
Los Blancos remain without Rodrygo, who will miss the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury, and first-choice keeper Thibaut Courtois. Aurelien Tchouameni will miss out too after accumulating too many yellows, the latest in last week’s first leg.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid LIVE
Last week’s first leg at the Bernabeu was as electric game as could be hoped for and Real were flattered by the scoreline as the German giants won 2-1, missing several chances to put the tie to bed.
Luis Diaz and Harry Kane were the only two to convert their opportunities, with Kylian Mbappe pulling one back, but Real were exposed multiple times and will need to mount yet another European comeback to make the last four.
Good evening
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live blog coverage of tonight’s Champions league quarter-final second leg between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Bayern ran out 2-1 winners in an enthralling first leg at the Bernabeu last week and they’ll head into the second leg as heavy favourites at the Allianz, though they’ll underestimate Madrid at their peril as both sides look to book a place in the European Cup semi-finals.
And we’ll have all the latest build-up, team news and updates right here.
