Madrid ready for Bayern test

When irresistible force meets immoveable object stalemate usually prevails, but in cup football something has to give and on Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium it will be either Real Madrid CF or FC Bayern München.

Compelling statistics
Following last week's 2-1 home victory for Bayern, the two most successful clubs in the ten-year history of the UEFA Champions League go head-to-head in the Spanish capital for a place in this year's semi-finals. The statistics, for once, make compelling reading.

Most successful sides
Madrid and Bayern have played the most games, recorded the most wins and accumulated the most points in the history of the Champions League. Madrid have recorded the highest number of victories (43) followed by Bayern (39) while the all-time points table (two points per win) is headed by Bayern (101) with Madrid (98) second. And this match pits the best attack in the competition against the second-best defence.

Bayern go for record
What is more, by avoiding defeat in last week's first leg, Bayern broke the Champions League record with their 19th consecutive unbeaten match; if they avoid defeat again on Wednesday, they will equal the record of AFC Ajax for the whole history of the European Champion Clubs' Cup.

Eagerly-anticipated match
But so much for the past. Wednesday night's match is probably the most eagerly anticipated of the whole European season so far: the champions versus their predecessors. Bayern have had much the better of it when they have met recently but Madrid will point to the fact that the one match they did win, two years ago, was on the way to the lifting the trophy itself.

Hitzfeld hopes
Last week Bayern hit back with two late goals after falling behind early in the match, and coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is hoping his side will carry on exactly where they left off. "I hope my team remembers the last 20 minutes in Munich and that they play like that and don't go looking for a 0-0 draw," he said on Tuesday lunchtime, shortly after arriving in Madrid. "We must try to attack. Real Madrid are a very strong team, they always attack, that is their style, but we must also make some opportunities to score because that would make it very difficult for them."

Kovac suspended
Bayern will have to do without Nico Kovac, who is suspended after picking up a yellow card when he came on as a late substitute in Munich, while Mehmet Scholl, Alexander Zickler, Ciriaco Sforza and Carsten Jancker are all injured. French full-back Willy Sagnol also faces a late fitness test.

Figo set for return
Madrid meanwhile look set to welcome back Luis Figo following the ankle injury that kept him out of the first leg. He appeared as a substitute in the weekend win over Rayo Vallecano and coach Vincente del Bosque said on Tuesday: "It's very important for us to have him back. He's not one of the players we have to motivate, so we're very happy that he’s back, fit and ready to play."

Pavon out
Injury however, does deprive Del Bosque of his talented young defender Francisco Pavon, and it seems likely that Iván Helguera will forsake his customary midfield role to partner Fernando Hierro in central defence. Helguera, like Figo, is just one booking away from suspension, as are Bayern's Robert Kovac and Paulo Sergio.