FINAL BEFORE THE FINAL

Real Madrid, looking to secure a place in what will be their fourth final in five years, host Bayern Munich in the second-leg of the semifinal with a 2-1 advantage. HT looks at talking points from the upcoming game:

REAL HOLD EDGE

Bayern are in a similar position to last year's quarterfinals, when Real knocked them out. After losing the first leg 2-1 in Munich, they won by the same margin over 90

RONALDO RETURNS

Cristiano Ronaldo has been rested on several occasions leading to key Champions League fixtures this season, including their last game against Leganes on Saturday. This has allowed the 33-year-old to recuperate and be fresh for the European contests where he has scored 15 times already, just two shy of the all-time best record set by him in 2014. Considering he could not get on the score sheet in the first-leg, a rested Ronaldo will be raring to get his name on the score sheet. minutes in Madrid only to bow out 6-3 on aggregate after losing 4-2 after extra time. The last time the two teams met in the semifinals was in 2014, when Real thrashed Bayern 5-0 over two legs.

VULNERABLE AT HOME

Real have on numerous occasions this season looked rather shaky at the Bernabeu with the most recent scare coming in their second-leg quarterfinal against Juventus. They have conceded a total of 31 goals across all competitions at the Bernabeu this campaign. Even in the Spanish league, three of their five losses and four of their eight draws this season have come at home; meaning they have dropped 17 points in Madrid. They were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Leganes at home.

WHAT BAYERN NEED

Having conceded twice at home, Bayern will have to score at least two goals at the Santiago Bernabeu to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

If Bayern can score twice and manage to restrict Real, they will

TEAM WOES

Alongside long-term injury victims Manuel Neuer, Kingsley Coman and Arturo Vidal, Bayern will be without Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng, who suffered from groin injuries in the first-leg.

The good news for the visitors, though, will be the return of

David Alaba (in pic) and Javi Martinez with the former expected to take over at left-back from Rafinha. Dani Carvajal will be missing for Real. go through. If Bayern manage to score more than two, Real will have to beat them by at least one goal. The match will go to extra-time only if it ends 2-1 in favour of the visitors.