Lenny Boyle
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich - Second Leg
12/03/2011
Like the Barcelona v Chelsea semi-final, plucky Bayern Munich travel to Spain with a one goal advantage yet are widely expected to leave the competition at the hands of one of the giants of the Spanish game.
The first leg finished 2-1 to the Germans after a 90th minute Mario Gomez winner that ensured they are still well and truly in this match. A 1-1 draw would have heavily favoured Real Madrid in the second leg; the huge advantage of the away goal more often than not proves vital in these encounters.
And Madrid are on a high going into this match after they essentially won La Liga with a 2-1 win over their hated rivals, Barcelona, at the Camp Nou. A win that broke a streak of 54 consecutive undefeated games at Barcelona’s fortress of football.
So they may have lost the first leg to a Bayern Munich inspired to reach a final at their home stadium - The Allianz Arena will host the Champions League final - but confidence will not be an issue going into the game as, almost, newly crowned Champions.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is well aware of the heartache that can arise after losses at this stage of Europe’s premier football competition. Even going back to the so called phantom goal that allowed Liverpool to face Milan in a final - that they won in the most dramatic of fashion. Mourinho has faced disappointment at this stage before. As well as utter exhilaration.
Cristiano Ronaldo goes into the game with more recent plaudits than his rival Lionel Messi. He was the star of the show at the Camp Nou in the game that effectively won Real Madrid the league. And he will play a big part in whether Mourinho is confronted with more heartache; or exhilaration.Remember you
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