European giants Bayern hungry for more success
Shortpasses
Cristiano Ronaldo has already broken one record in this year’s Champions League but against Juventus in their quarter-final return on Wednesday he can edge closer to beating a bigger milestone of his own.
Ronaldo’s bicycle kick in Real Madrid’s 3-0 first leg victory last week ensured he passed Ruud van Nistelrooy’s feat by scoring in 10 consecutive Champions League games.
But the Portugese also now stands just three goals short of his best ever tally in a single European campaign, an achievement that would suggest this Ronaldo, aged 33, may even be the finest version yet.
His 14 goals so far have come over nine matches and featured doubles against APOEL, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. It means this is Ronaldo’s third most prolific Champions League showing to date already and, with Real almost certain to reach the semifinals, he is unlikely to finish here.
When he posted 16 goals in the 2015-16 tournament and his personal best of 17 in 2013-14, both times Real were crowned champions. “Cristiano is Cristiano, it’s always been like that,” coach Zinedine Zidane said after Ronaldo opened the scoring against Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
“There’s no other player in the team that scores like he does.”
There is no doubt Ronaldo’s game is now more streamlined and therefore more geared towards goals than perhaps it has ever been before.
To preserve his fitness and energy, he accepts less touches and covers less ground. The touches he takes and the spaces he finds are aimed at creating the greatest chance of hitting the net.
Even Zidane’s system is suited
Less than 24 hours after securing a sixth successive Bundesliga title, Jupp Heynckes cut Bayern Munich’s celebrations short as they aim for a seventh Champions League semi-final appearance in nine seasons.
“We want to take everything this season that there is to take -and this team has got big ambitions,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Only Real Madrid and AC Milan have enjoyed more success on the continent than five-time European champions Bayern, who are bidding for a second treble in five years.
Thiago Alcantara’s headed winner earned Bayern a 2-1 victory at Sevilla in last week’s quarter-final first leg, leaving the Germans in control going into Wednesday’s return at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern clinched a record-extending 28th German league title on Saturday with a 4-1 thrashing of Augsburg to continue their domestic dominance that dates back to 2012. But the following day, those not involved from the start in Augsburg -- including Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Mueller, Javi Martinez and Mats Hummels -- were put through their paces on the training ground. “It’s nice to see how everyone worked hard (at Augsburg),” said Mueller.
This is Ronaldo’s third most prolific show and, with Real likely to reach semis, he’ll get a chance to score more MADRID: BERLIN:
Capturing four Champions League trophies under his tenure is not enough for Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as he desperately wants to match the haul of six European Cups won by late president Santiago Bernabeu. “Bernabeu is our reference point and we want to follow his path. FIFA named us the best club of the 20th century in 2000 and now we are working hard to get the same recognition in the 21st,” Perez told Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday.
Real are the overwhelming favourites
“This will has been with us for the whole season, we hope it will carry us a bit further.”
With the Bundesliga wrapped up, Bayern turn their focus to Europe. Since the Bavarians lost the 2010 final to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan, only holders Real Madrid have reached the last four of the Champions League more often than Bayern.
The Spanish giants have managed it seven times in eight seasons, while Bayern have done so on six occasions.
Bayern missed out on the semifinals a year ago, losing to Real in the quarter-finals, and in 2011 when they were knocked out in the last 16 by Inter Milan.
The 72-year-old Heynckes led Bayern to the 2013 Champions to reach the last four as they will take a 3-0 lead into the second leg of their quarter-final against Juventus in Madrid on Wednesday. Their European campaign has been in total contrast to their disappointing La Liga form as they currently languish in fourth place in the standings, 15 points behind runaway leaders Barcelona.
Barca are also on track to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, with a 4-1 lead over AS
Roma in their tie, but Perez said he would have no fear about meeting the Catalans in a ‘Clasico’ final in
Kiev on May 26. League title when Arjen Robben scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Under Heynckes’ successor Pep Guardiola, Bayern were knocked out at the semi-final stage in each of his three seasons -- every time at the hands of Spanish opposition.
Heynckes replaced Carlo Ancelotti in October after Bayern were crushed 3-0 away by Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage.
At the time, Bayern trailed then-leaders Dortmund by five points in Germany.
“When he took over, Jupp said that it would be difficult to make up the five points -- now we have more than 20 on Dortmund,” beamed Rummenigge.
PEREZ AIMS SIX EUROPEAN CUPS MADRID: