Big Match Feature: Real v Bayern 23 Apr 2014 09:03:20 Real Madrid will not be short of motivation when they host holders Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Uefa Champions League semifinal. Catch the action live on SS3 HD and live streaming on supersport from 8pm. If the prize of a first final since 2002 were not enough, they also have the opportunity to avenge their defeat by Bayern in the 2011/12 semifinals. The presence of former Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola in the visitors dugout adds an extra dimension to this meeting of European heavyweights. Guardiola got the better of Madrid at this stage in 2011 but the home team will hope for a different outcome as they look to end a run of three consecutive semifinal losses. Between them the clubs have 14 European Cups. Bayern, five-time winners, are seeking to become the first side to retain the title since AC Milan managed the feat in 1989 and 1990 with a team featuring Carlo Ancelotti, now Madrid coach. Madrid, for their part, are bidding to secure La Décima – their tenth European crown – after last lifting the trophy 12 years ago. Previous Meetings German champions Bayern have 11 victories to Madrids seven from 20 encounters. Madrids home record isW7 D1 L2. The sides have met in five European Cup semi-finals with Bayern prevailing in 1976, 1987, 2001 and 2012; Madrids sole win came in 2000. The clubs semifinal two seasons ago produced a 3-3 aggregate draw, Jupp Heynckes Bayern emerging victorious in a penalty shoot-out. In the first leg Mario Gomez hit a 90th-minute winner after Mesut Özil (53) had cancelled out Franck Ribérys opening goal (17). In Madrid, José Mourinhos hosts struck twice in the first 14 minutes through Cristiano Ronaldo but Arjen Robbens penalty (27) levelled the aggregate scores and led to the concluding shoot-out where Bayern prevailed 3-1. In that shoot-out Bastian Schweinsteiger converted the winning kick while David Alaba and Gomez were also on target. Xabi Alonso was the only successful taker for Madrid, Manuel Neuer saving from Ronaldo and Kaká while Sergio Ramos missed. Iker Casillas denied Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm. Madrid have won the teams last four meetings at the Santiago Bernabéu, whereas Bayerns last triumph came in 2001 when Giovane Elber put the only goal past Casillas in the first leg of the German sides eventual 3-1 aggregate semi-final success. Overall they have faced each other nine times in two-legged encounters, with five wins for Bayern and four for Madrid. The Spanish club last got the better of Bayern in the 2003/04 round of 16 when a solitary strike by Zinédine Zidane – now Carlo Ancelottis assistant coach – secured a 1-0 second-leg victory at the Santiago Bernabéu and 2-1 overall triumph. Madrid had to overcome Bayern en route to their two most recent European Cup conquests, beating them by the same 3-2 aggregate score in the 2000 semi-finals and 2002 quarterfinals. Match Background Madrid are unbeaten in 17 Champions League home matches, dating back to 27 April 2011 when Guardiolas Barcelona won 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu in the first leg of an eventual 3-1 aggregate semifinal defeat for the Merengues. Madrids home record since is 15 wins, two draws and no defeats. This season they have scored 16 goals in their five victories, including successes over two Bundesliga sides, FC Schalke 04 (3-1) and Borussia Dortmund (3-0), in the last two rounds. Madrids overall record against German visitors isW20 D4 L2. Their record in two-legged ties with German teams in Uefa competition isW13 L8. Bayerns 1-1 draw at Manchester United in the first leg of their quarterfinal ended a club-record run of seven straight away wins in the Champions League. They are unbeaten in their last ten away games in the competition dating back to a 3-1 loss to BATE Borisov in October 2012. Bayerns record against Spanish opponents in two-legged ties isW9 L6. They won 3-0 at Barcelona to complete a 7-0 aggregate success in last seasons semi-finals and their overall record away to Liga teams isW6 D5 L10. Madrid are attempting to avoid a third successive semi-final loss to German opposition. Bayern, conversely, can complete a hat-trick of wins over Liga clubs at this stage. For Madrid, this is a record 25th European Cup semifinal and they are endeavouring to get to their 13th final. Their semifinal record isW12 L12:
Posted on: Wed, 23 Apr 2014 08:12:34 +0000
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