Robert Lewandowski will make a welcome return to Bayern Munich’s line-up for tonight’s Champions League encounter against Real Madrid.The Polish striker has been out with a shoulder injury since April 8, so he missed last week’s 2-1 defeat to Real at the Allianz Arena.And while Madrid are favourites to progress to the semi-finals, Lewandowski’s return will imbue a great deal of confidence in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is aware of the threat Lewandowski, who has scored 38 goals in 40 appearances this season, will pose at the Bernabeu this evening.“Lewandowski is a real number nine and a bonus for Bayern,” Zidane said this week, via the Daily Mail.“Bayern have a great team in all departments so we have to be focused on what we have to do.
“We know that they have a lot of ways to cause problems for their opponents and they also have flaws.”
Madrid are without Bale
And while Bayern are buoyed by the return of their star man, Madrid will be without Gareth Bale, who hasn’t recovered from an ankle injury suffered in last week’s win in Germany.
“When he came back he was desperate to be involved and now he has a small niggle that is preventing him from being fully fit," Zidane said, per BBC Sport.
"I hope it is nothing and in a few days he can be with us again."
An enthralling counter awaits
It promises to be an enthralling encounter. Bayern must score at least twice so it’ll be interesting to see how Los Blancos will cope with their opposition’s aggressiveness - whether they will attempt to protect their lead or play on the counter-attack.
Casillas and Ballack's Twitter banter
Michael Ballack and Iker Casillas, formerly of Bayern and Madrid respectively, exchanged some banter on Twitter ahead of the contest.
Ballack tweeted his prediction for the game - a 2-1 win for Bayern, with the Germans winning the tie in extra-time - before Casillas hit back by saying Real would take the game 2-1.
The German then replied: “We shall see @IkerCasillas.”
It'll be worth checking out Casillas and Ballack's Twitter feed during the contest - no doubt they'll be poking fun at each other throughout.