Tonight’s Champions League semi-final clash between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich isn’t just another fixture—it’s a historical rematch steeped in narrative and rivalry. Exactly a decade after Carlo Ancelotti’s Real devastated Bayern with a 4-0 victory in Munich, the stage is set for another epic encounter at the same stage of the competition. Ancelotti, with a flawless record against Bayern, aims to extend his unbeaten streak, but comes up against Tuchel, who holds a perfect record in semi-finals. Throughout Tuchel’s career, his teams have reached this stage 11 times and have always progressed to the final.
🇩🇪 Thomas Tuchel vs Carlo Ancelotti 🇮🇹
It's time to rumble in the UEFA Champions League! ⚔️🍿 pic.twitter.com/njtGdcF4Sf
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 30, 2024
Before the game, Bayern Munich’s coach, sparked excitement with a bold prediction about one of his players: “Serge Gnabry will score tomorrow. It will happen. I don’t know how I know, but it will happen.” Tuchel also took a moment to praise Jude Bellingham’s phenomenal growth, attributing it to his character: “Jude is extraordinary, how he’s progressed speaks to his personality.”
Bayern’s squad received a boost with the return of key players. Jamal Musiala, who sat out the previous game due to tendon irritation, was seen back in training alongside teammates Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, and Konrad Laimer, enhancing Bayern’s attacking and midfield options.
When questioned about Tuchel’s prediction, Ancelotti responded with humour and a hint of rivalry, saying: “Well, I can say that Vinicius has more chances to score than Mendy!” The Italian specialist also confirmed that Aurelien Tchouameni will be in the starting lineup.
Ancelotti addressed transfer rumours surrounding Alphonso Davies and Ferland Mendy’s futures. Choosing his words carefully, he focused on his player: “I do not comment on rival players. I can talk about Ferland Mendy. He has recovered very well and is ready for tomorrow.”