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Preamble
It doesn’t get a lot bigger or better than this. The outright favourites this season (Bayern) against the most successful European side of all time (Real). A mouthwatering quarter-final between two gigantic behemoths to see who will face the reigning champions (PSG) in the semi-final. Double woof.
The quarter-finals might just be the best part of the Champions League – close enough to the final to get excited of glory but far enough from the tournament climax to still have any number of unknowns and permutations, the games come thick and fast (you can also follow Arsenal v Sporting tonight right here) and there is just a solitary goal separating Bayern and Real Madrid in this tie, with the Germans earning a 2-1 first-leg victory last week at the Bernabéu. Yes, it was a stunning result for Vincent Kompany’s side but Bayern might be frustrated their advantage is not bigger. One thing is for sure, you never, ever count out Real Madrid in this competition.
There is even an English angle on the most continental of evenings, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold all hoping to make their mark on the biggest of stages – the Bayern striker has never won Europe’s biggest prize while Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold will want to deliver timely reminders about their England credentials.
Bellingham was asked on Tuesday about Kane’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or:
It seems like they’re going to win the Bundesliga, which obviously hurts me considering my brother is at Dortmund, and I was a player there,” Bellingham replied. “Again, it depends on what he does with England, and hopefully, we can try and stop them from winning the Champions League tomorrow, which will obviously have a big effect.
He’s a sensational player. It’s a pleasure to play with him with the national team. I think he’s amazing. He’s showing everyone the last two or three years he’s reached a level where he’s almost perfected his craft in terms of what he can do as a striker.”
It’s going to be quite the show at the Allianz Arena.
Kick-off: 8pm BST.
