Real Madrid’s last trip to the Allianz Arena in 2007 in the Champions League was at the first knock-out stage and the Spanish side arrived protecting a 3-2 home win from the Santiago Bernabeu. All of which became the flimsiest of margins once Roy Makaay scored after 11 seconds for Munich and proving a test too far after Lucio scored in the 66th minute. By the time the penalty came Madrid’s way seven minutes from time, both Diarra and Van Bommel had been sent off, with the fixture ending 2-1 after van Nistelrooy converted from the spot.
Surprisingly a month later Milan dumped Bayern out in the quarterfinals as they marched on Rome, where the Italians beat a listless Liverpool – after two strikes from Pippo Inzaghi.
Bayern and Real have met in four previous European Cup semi-finals, with Munich holding the better record in 1976, 1987 and 2001, going on to win the trophy on two of those occasions. When Madrid won the battle in 2000 the club then beat Valencia in the final in Stade de France – with Steve McManaman playing a key role for manager Del Bosque on the night.
In the Champion League final of 2010 it was an ageing Inter Milan team who swamped the German side – still star studded – by one Jose Mourinho who went on to make the Santiago Bernabeu his home when he joined Real Madrid the following July.
His arrival on Tuesday night at the Allianz Arena will offer Bayern a chance to seek revenge for that night, albeit the return leg of April 25th will most likely prove the decider – knowing the Special One’s coy tactics away from home. But it is a testy Bayern that plays this week hurting after conceding the Bundesliga title to arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund, which raised some sharp comments from Club General Manager, Uli Hoeness – the man who delivered the fabulous new stadium on the outskirts of the city. In his time he also helped deliver the European Cup trophy on three occasions. –
As part of a talented Bayern side that took over from Johan Cruyff's Ajax, Hoeness was part of the team that dominated European trophies in the mid 1970’s. Indeed, he played in a final that was replayed in 1974 when a draw ended the first game in the Heysel Stadium against Atletico Madrid.
The following year Bayern beat Johnny Giles and Company in Parc de Princes when Leeds United succumbed to goals from Franz Beckenbauer’s men in Paris. Then in 1976 Hoeness added a third medal against St Etienne with a win at Hampden Park.
On the field this time around the much travelled Arjen Robben Dutchman will come face-to-face with his ex-employers and a former gaffer - having joined the Mourinho project at Stamford Bridge in 2004.
At Chelsea Robben won two Premier League Titles and one FA Cup medal but was shuffled on in 2007 when Real Madrid called – despite a number of injuries. He missed out on a reunion at Madrid with the Special One after his enforced move to Bayern in 2009. So one imagines no one more than Robben himself would love to prove his worth to the Munich faithful this time around and it could add to the edge if the Dutchman decides to show his flair in Germany on Tuesday night.
The added pique could come from Bayern Manager Jupp Heynckes, who in 1997 achieved what Mourinho has yet to deliver when he was at Real Madrid - the La Liga title.
Hired after Fabio Cappello won the Spanish championship the German proved his pedigree when in 1998 the European Cup returned to Madrid after a 32-year absence with a Champions League win over Juventus at the Amsterdam Arena. On a night that Clarence Seedorf won the second of his four Champions League medals, having gained his first the previous May with Ajax. The glory for Heynckes however was short lived as he only lasted a one full season when he proved unable to match the achievements at the start of the 1979 season. For the record he will undoubtedly will point that the mighty Guus Hiddink even failed to deliver the holy grail that season, when he came to replace the sacked Heynckes.
Although the record suggests Munich are favourites – especially with the final at the Allianz Arena on May 19th – and the added motivation for Bayern is very clear. In fact there would be nothing better in terms of footballing fairy tales. But it also adds pressure as Real Madrid found out in 2010, when they slipped out of the tournament on away goals at home in the round of 16 to Lyon – and missing the final at The Santiago Bernabeu months later between Inter and Bayern Munich.
No better way for the Real Madrid players to rid that memory than by ensuring a return flight to the Allianz Arena on May 19th.
© OSM
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