Munich matchup rife with subplots

MUNICH, Germany - Bayern Munich hosts Real Madrid in Wednesday's tantalizing Champions League quarterfinal first leg, with Carlo Ancelotti's Bavarians looking to again be the Spaniards' bane.

And the subplots to the Allianz Arena clash are manifold.

Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti coached Real to the 2014 Champions League crown and is up against his former assistant from that triumph, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.

World Cup 2010 winner Xabi Alonso, who also won the 2014 Champions League before joining Bayern, will face his ex-club for the last time before retiring in June.

And Real's Germany midfielder Toni Kroos is another set to face a former employer.

Ancelotti said "little things will make the difference" between the star-studded squads as two offensive juggernauts go head-to-head.

Bayern sniper Robert Lewandowski, who has 38 goals in all competitions this term, is up against Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 26 goals in 36 games.

That may be modest by his standards, but Ronaldo has tormented Bayern in the past with four goals in as many games and the Bavarians will be wary, especially with backup from Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

Lewandowski injured his shoulder as he netted twice in Saturday's 4-1 hammering of Borussia Dortmund, but expects to be "100 percent" fit.

Bayern has racked up a Champions League-record 16 straight wins at Allianz Arena, and that's a run Dutch winger Arjen Robben is anxious to maintain.

"We have to up the ante, we have to signal (to Real) from the first minute that there is nothing to take in Munich and we want to win the game," said Robben.

Bayern was a thorn in Real's side when it won eight of 14 matches against the Spanish club between 2000 and 2012.

All that changed in the 2014 Champions League semifinal when Real was thrashed 4-0 in Munich to crash out 5-0 on aggregate as Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos netted twice each.

That loss remains Bayern's worst at home in European competition, but there is no talk of revenge ahead of Wednesday's clash.

"This is the quarterfinals, but it sounds like a final," said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm.

"We're playing against an absolute top team, who have top players in every position. We will have to play to our potential."

Both teams are missing key defenders.

Bayern's Germany international Mats Hummels is out after damaging ankle ligaments on Sunday, so Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez will form the centerback partnership.

Hummels faces a race against time to be back for the return leg on April 18, while Real is without Pepe and Raphael Varane for both matches.

Pepe suffered a double rib fracture in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid, while Varane has a hamstring problem.

Rightback Daniel Carvajal trained on his own on Monday and is struggling with an injury.

Bayern received a boost on Monday with Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer back in training following a minor foot operation 10 days ago, while Thomas Mueller is also fit after an ankle injury.

"We're very confident. It's a European cracker featuring two top teams," said Mueller.

"We also notice it outside the club, not only in terms of the media, but also when talking to friends or acquaintances in Munich.

"Everyone's talking about the game."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 04/12/2017 page24)