Miracle or crisis awaits Real Madrid in Munich

Real Madrid has tonight (3 p.m. ET) one of those appointments that mark the present and future of a team. Los Blancos need the miracle of coming back against Bayern from the 1-2 first leg defeat to avoid entering a crisis. Real Madrid is playing for nothing less than the season tonight. With LaLiga almost impossible, if not impossible, the Merengues only have the Champions League left to avoid ending their second consecutive campaign without titles. Something that would undoubtedly provoke a full blown crisis at Real Madrid.

In front of them is a Bayern side chasing the treble and one of the favorites to win the Champions League. The team knows what it plays, it is a solid side, and it managed to leave the Bernabéu with an advantage for tonight’s match. The Bavarian side starts as favorite, but they do not trust Real Madrid, aware that tonight is the last bullet left for Los Blancos and they will come out going for everything.

Arbeloa cannot count on the suspended Tchouaméni, and finding his replacement is key for Madrid’s interests. Camavinga failed his test against Girona, and everything points to him being on the bench tonight. With Valverde, Bellingham, and Arda Güler fixed in midfield, everything points to Thiago being the fourth member of the midfield. Up front, all eyes are on the Mbappé-Vinicius duo, which still has not taken off, but they have the quality to ruin anyone’s night. At the back, the Militão-Rüdiger pairing will return, and at fullback, Trent is expected to start, while it remains to be seen whether Arbeloa goes with Mendy, just back from injury, or trusts Carreras again, who Olise exposed in the first leg.

For Bayern, Kompany has all his stars ready. Including Gnabry, who did not play this past weekend because of discomfort in his knee. The Bavarian side does not want euphoria despite its advantage in the tie and will rely on what works for them: Neuer’s form, Kimmich’s control, Kane’s finishing, the dribbling of Olise and Luis Díaz. A block that works and has confidence in its game. Lennart Karl, Maycon Cardozo, Cassiano Kiala, Wisdom Mike, and Sven Ulreich are out for Bayern, but none of them are key pieces.

What Kompany’s men do have guaranteed is the support of the Allianz Arena. A full house is expected, with the presence of around 3,000 Real Madrid fans. The Bavarian club has launched a campaign for the stadium to be a cauldron tonight. It has asked its supporters to attend dressed in red tonight.