Midfield maestros meet in Munich

There cannot be many players in the world that Zinedine Zidane is envious of, but Stefan Effenberg is possibly one. Why? Because the German holds the one major honour in the game that the Frenchman has yet to win, a UEFA Champions League winners' medal. "It is the trophy I miss," he says. If tonight's quarter-final meeting between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF needed any extra spice, their confrontation in midfield should supply it.

Effenberg effect
Oliver Kahn's performance in the penalty shootout at last year's final between Bayern and Valencia CF may have been crucial, but it was Effenberg who was the inspiration - and perspiration -behind the German victory. When people talk about big-match players, few fit the bill more perfectly than the powerfully built German midfield player. He is a genuine superstar.

Contrasting figures
And the self-confidence that he exudes cannot fail to lift his team-mates, particularly the young players in the Bayern side like Owen Hargreaves and Roque Santa Cruz. Zidane, by contrast, is a much more introverted figure, a player who inspires those around him by his own individual brilliance rather than the sheer power of his performance, even if he is physically Effenberg's equal.

Roll of honour
In terms of both individual and team success, Zidane's achievements dwarf those of his German rival. He has won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championship with France and two Serie A titles with Juventus FC as well as the World Footballer of the Year award twice. Indeed, he looks on course to add a Primera División winners' medal to that collection, but in the Champions League there is a huge blonde obstacle in his way.

Will to fight
At 33, this will almost certainly be Effenberg's last hurrah in German football. With the exception of two years at AC Fiorentina from 1992-94, he has committed himself to the 1. Bundesliga but now looks set to finish his career in the FA Premiership in England. And one thing is certain, he will battle until his last breath to defend his European title and, while man-marking may not be his role, he will be ready to match Zidane pass for pass, shot for shot.

Unhappy memories
No doubt the Frenchman could have done without twisting an ankle last Saturday before such a confrontation. Indeed, Bayern's Olympiastadion has not been a happy hunting ground for Zidane down the years. When his first club FC Girondins de Bordeaux played Bayern in the 1996 UEFA Cup he missed the first leg in Germany due to a suspension. A year later Zidane was in the Juventus FC side beaten 3-1 by BV Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at the same venue.

Lengthy suspension
What with a lengthy suspension last season while playing for Juventus, which carried over into this season, Zidane has been unable to give of his best in the Champions League. If ever there was a time to justify the claim of the Madrid president Florentino Perez that he was "a player born to play for Real", it is now.