Real Madrid, Bayern cross paths in Champs League 2nd Leg
For the 28th time in their long and illustrious histories, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will cross paths in the Champions League, this time in the second leg of their semi-final at the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening.
The two former conquerors of Europe shook hands on a pulsating 2-2 stalemate at the Allianz Arena last week, and either Borussia Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain shall lie in wait for the Bernabeu victor.
Real Madrid
No strangers to extinguishing Bavarian hopes of Champions League stardom, Real Madrid weathered an early storm at the Allianz Arena last week and delivered a Vinicius Junior-sized sucker punch in the first half, but the Brazilian then had to be Los Blancos’ late saviour in the second.
Four days on from their pilgrimage to Bavaria, a record-equalling La Liga title was secured by Carlo Ancelotti‘s second-string troops, who breezed past Cadiz 3-0 before witnessing Girona crush closest challengers Barcelona, thereby ensuring that their name would be etched onto the coveted trophy for the 36th time.
History Makers
Only Juventus have claimed as many titles in the history of Europe’s big five leagues, and Real’s sole focus will now be on adding Champions League number 15 to their brimming cabinet ahead of their return to continental nights at the Bernabeu, where they have scored in 28 successive Champions League contests since a shock 3-0 loss to CSKA Moscow in December 2018.
All in all, the reigning Spanish champions have navigated each of their last 20 games without defeat since January’s Copa del Rey exit at the hands of local foes Atletico Madrid, and by the time Wednesday’s game rolls around, it would have been exactly 13 months to the day that Real last lost at home in any setting.
Bayern Munich
Only one of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich could end the season with top-flight and Champions League winners’ medals around their necks, as the visitors to the Spanish capital saw their crown ripped out of their grasp by Bayer Leverkusen and are yet to even secure a top-three finish in the top flight.
Indeed, Bayern have not kept a single clean sheet away from home in 2024 – last shutting out Manchester United in December – and they have shipped multiple goals in eight of their last 10 on rival territory, winning on just three occasions in that abysmal spell.
The defensive misery does not end there for Bayern, who have also gone 16 games without a clean sheet against Real Madrid and have never got one over Ancelotti in nine previous attempts versus the distinguished Blancos boss; no team has ever experienced a worse winless run against a particular manager in the Champions League.
Preview
Real Madrid simply do not know the meaning of the word boring when it comes to Champions League knockout fixtures, which Ancelotti’s side almost always possess the secret recipe for success for, especially in front of the white-clad Bernabeu crowd.
Bayern may be able to put out a near full-strength team as their injury situation eases, but they have been carved open at will on the road in 2024, and such defensive frailties could prove fatal as Real edge a mesmerising matchup to advance to Wembley.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Chelsea’s Silva to join Fluminense in May
Thiago Silva will join Brazilian club Fluminense following Chelsea’s final Premier League game of the season on 19 May.
The Blues have agreed that Silva, 39, can join his new team-mates prior to his registration transferring on 1 July.
The Brazil centre-back has signed a two-year contract with Fluminense.
He joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain in 2020 and has made 152 appearances for the Blues.
Silva won three trophies in that time, including the 2020-21 Champions League.
He said his love for the club was “indescribable” in April, when he announced he would leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Chelsea host Bournemouth in their final match of the season, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side seventh and fighting to finish in a European place with three league games remaining.
Credit: bbc.com
France president again interferes in Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid
Emmanuel Macron, 25th president of the Republic of France, launched a clear message to the future team of Kylian Mbappe, who finishes his contract with PSG and everybody in France hopes that his new club – which will be Real Madrid – will allow him to play the Olympic Games.
“I really hope that all European clubs will release their players, as French clubs have done, that’s the Olympic spirit,” said Emmanuel Macron in an interview with ‘La Tribune Dimanche’.
“I met Mbappe‘s father last week and asked him the question. He told me: ‘He wants to play them’ (the Olympics),” the French president noted.
Mbappe recently stated that “my position has not changed, but the truth is that I am not thinking about the Olympics. I’m focused on the present and the present is now about PSG.”
Mbappe and Real Madrid have a closed and signed agreement whereby from July 1 the French striker will become a brand new player of the white team.
In 2022, Macron interfered so that Mbappe did not leave PSG to join Real Madrid. “You have time to go, you can stay another little bit,” Macron told the still PSG footballer. “When the president tells you that, that counts,” Mbappe acknowledged.
Credit: marca.com
