Champions League Preview: Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

Jupp Henkes is a Bundesliga legend. He played for the great Borussia Monchendgladbach sides of the 1960's and 1970's and as a coach, he guided Real Madrid in Spain to its seventh European Championship. This is the Real Madrid squad of Peja Mijatovich and Fernando Morientes up front, Raul just slightly withdrawn from them, along with the likes of Seedorf and Karembeu, Redondo in the hole, and the likes of Roberto Carlos, Manolo Sanchis, Fernando Hierro, and Cristian Panucci on the right. This was pre-Iker time in goal my friend. He knows the ins-and-outs of Real Madrid. He belongs in the annals. He has won the titles. He has given his all to the cause.

Now the legendary coach has been given the charge of a Bayern Munich squad that has seen itself been pushed aside to the young and vibrant Borussia Dortmund that has dominated the Bundeslga championship over the last two years. This Bayern side may not be as dominant as it has been in the past in Germany considering but it is certainly dangerous enough if we survey their strengths according to the Jose Mourinho led squad that they will be facing.

Many pundits will be looking to Real Madrid's wealth of attacking talent and they will be locking themselves to a blow-out. Real Madrid are ravenous at goal surely, but they are susceptible on the wings where both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery run rampant and in the air on set-plays where target man Mario Gomez is the key to the the Bavarian's cause.

We all expect a high scoring Real Madrid victory, but I'd be wary of betting on that. It might be closer than we all think. My prediction? A slight Bayern win: 2-1.