Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid: CONFIRMED lineups and analysis

Alright, less than an hour left until Bayern Munich and Real Madrid go head to head in the biggest clash of the season — and we have lineups! Here they are, courtesy of both club’s official twitter accounts:

Jupp Heynckes has opted for the exact lineup everyone predicted before the game — that is a 4-1-4-1 with James Rodriguez instead of Thiago Alcantara. Javi Martinez slots in as the lone pivot, while both of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery start the game on their respective flanks. It’s a risky strategy for the Bayern Munich manager, as such an offensive lineup could easily be exposed by the incredible firepower that Real Madrid possess. But if anyone knows how to win a Champions League knockout game, it’s Jupp.

On the other side we have a 4-4-2 from Zinedine Zidane. The surprise choice here is Lucsz Vasquez instead of Karim Benzema, but apart from that all the megastars are present. Madrid have a clear advantage in midfield over the Bavarians, boasting the likes of Isco, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Casemiro in their ranks. These lineups reflect the radically different approaches by the two managers, as Zidane seems to want to take the midfield away from Bayern. How will they respond?

Who will come out on top?