Bayern Munich will face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League heavyweight semi-finals, with the first leg taking place at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, April 30, live on TNT Sports and Discoveri+. Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel has praised Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and spoke of the “aura and legend” surrounding the 14-time champions. Serge Gnabry and Alphonso Davies should be available for Bayern. Thomas Tuchel says Bayern Munich are “very aware” of the threat posed by Real Madrid’s “outstanding” midfielder Jude Bellingham ahead of the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg.
Bellingham was in sensational form in his debut season with Real, scoring 17 goals in La Liga and four in the Champions League.
He has been one of their most important players this season and is targeting club and country trophies in the next few months. Bayern will be looking to put a stop to that as they take on Real in the tightest semi-final in the competition’s history.
“Jude is outstanding,” Bayern head coach Tuchel said ahead of the first leg, which is broadcast live on TNT Sports and Discovery+ on Tuesday, April 30.
“He’s been fantastic here in the Bundesliga, how he’s progressed shows the level of personality he has, that’s only possible with a big personality.
“Everyone who plays for Madrid plays with the pressure of the jersey. He plays with the pressure to play with this club and all the expectations. “He’s handling it like he’s never done anything else. But we are well aware of that and tomorrow we will try to find solutions.”
Tuchel has Champions League pedigree having won the competition with Chelsea in 2021 and reaching the final with Paris Saint-Germain a year earlier.
But Real are 14-time winners and Tuchel admits Bayern are “also against the aura, the legend that surrounds them”.
“You need luck, momentum, freedom, the whole package to beat Real Madrid in the semi-finals,” added Tuchel. “Right now we have a good mix of anticipation and tension.
Looking ahead to the first leg at the Allianz Arena, Tuchel said: “You can achieve a lot with tactics. Access is a car, and players have to drive it.
“We have to find a good balance and moments where we have the right solutions. Tuchel said he would make a “last minute” decision on whether Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, Matthijs de Ligt, Konrad Leimer and Dayot Upamecano are fit to play.
But Serge Gnabry should return from injury and Alphonso Davies, who is suspended for the second leg of the quarter-final against Arsenal, is available.
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