BAYERN MUNICH: BOOM! The big one as Bayern Munich face holders Real Madrid. But Bayern will be relieved to avoid an all-German clash (no, it’s not a Klassiker) and also avoid Real’s noisy neighbours Atletico, who dumped them out in the semifinals last time under Pep Guardiola. Of course, the main narrative will surround Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti plotting his way past Real, whom he led to the historic La Decima, thrashing Guardiola’s Bayern 5-0 on aggregate in the last four in 2014. Arjen Robben, Xabi Alonso and Toni Kroos will all face former clubs, too.
REAL MADRID: Real Madrid definitely did not want to draw Bayern Munich at this stage of the competition — as the reaction of the club’s former player and current director Emilio Butragueno directly afterwards showed. For years Madrid have feared the big German clubs, especially Bayern, with a history of losing important meetings dating back to the 1980s, through Jose Mourinho’s time in charge, right up until the shock 4-0 win in Munich on the way to winning the 2014 trophy. That Carlo Ancelotti was Blancos coach that season, and now returns with Bayern to take on his former assistant Zinedine Zidane, adds even more sauce to the mix. Everybody at the Bernabeu, from president Florentino Perez down, would have preferred this game not to happen at this stage.
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