Rio Ferdinand has revealed his prediction for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich’s mouth-watering Champions League semi-final at the Bernabeu.
Either Madrid or Bayern will face Borussia Dortmund in next month’s Wembley final after the Bundesliga side stunned French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the other semi-final.
The Madrid-Bayern tie is perfectly poised after a 2-2 draw in Germany last week but Ferdinand is confident he knows which team will reach the final.
Asked for his prediction, the former Manchester United and England defender said on TNT Sports: ‘I think there will be goals, there are dangerous players on both sides.
‘I got tonight’s one wrong, I fancied PSG, but I really genuinely believe that Real Madrid – with that stadium, that history and these players – will get over the line.
‘But both teams will be thinking this is a great opportunity. No disrespect to Dortmund but both of these teams will expect to beat them in the final.’
Two goals in four second-half minutes from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane put Bayern Munich 2-1 up against Real Madrid after Vinicius Junior’s first-half opener at the Allianz Arena.
But the Brazilian scored again with ten minutes remaining to earn 14-time European champions Madrid a 2-2 draw and leave the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side clinched the La Liga title at the weekend but there were no celebrations as Real Madrid aim to reach the Champions League final following a quarter-final penalty shootout victory over holders Manchester City.
‘Not celebrating was the best thing to do,’ Madrid’s Dani Carvajal said at the pre-match press conference.
‘There’s a vital game and there will be time to celebrate at the weekend – that’s why we took that decision. We’re having a great year. We’re very excited for the Champions League. We’re two games away from lifting it again.
‘The dressing room knows it – in the streets they’re giving us encouragement so we can dream of our 15th [European title].’
Ancelotti, meanwhile, insists he is ‘confident’ his side will progress to the Wembley final on June 1 while admitting Bayern Munich were the better side in the first leg.
‘I am confident because this is Real Madrid, we have this squad, I’m confident in the fans who will help us,’ the legendary Italian manager said.
‘These are similar clubs, they have great history and a lot of success in the Champions League. We respect them. They did better than us in the first leg.’
Bayern Munich have endured a curious season, failing to win the Bundesliga under Thomas Tuchel but impressing in Europe as they chase a seventh Champions League trophy.
‘All the prep has been about content,’ Tuchel said on the eve of the Bernabeu semi-final. ‘We don’t talk about the legend.
‘It’s one of the most difficult stadiums to win in, but it’s not impossible. We had a very good first leg, but unfortunately didn’t win. Given they’re at home, it’s maybe at 51 percent for Real.’
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