5 ways Bayern Munich can beat Real Madrid in the second leg of the semi-final

A European Clasico is in our hands as Real Madrid play host to Bayern Munich in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. Zinedine Zidane's men carry a 2-1 lead going into the match with the German expedition bearing fruit for Real Madrid, courtesy of two valuable away goals.

All the odds are placed against Bayern Munich at the moment. No team has overturned a 2-1 first leg home deficit at this stage of the competition. Add to that, the Bavarians have not beaten Real Madrid in their last six attempts. The last time Bayern won at the Bernabeu came way back in 2001.

Real Madrid are the defending champions and are the favourites for many to reach yet another grand final. Their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is in the form of his life whereas Bayern Munich are crippled with injuries in every department.

But football has a karmic aspect of levelling things up. Despite all the injuries and the mental block of their recent failures against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich do have a strong team that can beat the European champions in their own den.

Call it revenge for last season's infamous ouster or as a tribute to Jupp Heynckes, Bayern Munich will be up for this Herculean task better than ever before. So, let's take a look at five ways how Bayern Munich can trouble Real Madrid tonight and can run out as winners:

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#5 Applying a high press

Heynckes must set up his team to press Real Madrid high up the field

In the first 25 minutes of the first leg, Bayern Munich pressed Real Madrid high up the pitch and as a result, they were seen controlling the entire game. They hunted in numbers and attacked the Madrid defenders in possession as a unit.

It reduced the time and space available to the Madrid player in possession as it forced him either to go long or pass the ball into crowded spaces. Bayern Munich targeted the fullbacks and Casemiro, with James Rodriguez and the wingers often initiating the press.

The Bavarians, in search of at least 2 goals tonight, need to deploy the same tactic to regain possession as quickly as possible. Real Madrid aren't comfortable when pressed high up the pitch which was reflected in their Champions League defeats to Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur this season.

#4 Targeting Real Madrid's left flank

These two can target Marcelo

With Isco out injured, Marco Asensio is expected to take up his place. Asensio is likely to be deployed on the left flank with Marcelo behind him as the left-back.

It is this area where Bayern Munich can target the home side as they can either pump crosses into the box or get behind the full-back.

In the first leg, it was Joshua Kimmich who used this ploy to get into a goal scoring situation. He and Thomas Muller combined brilliantly at times to carve out openings from the right side.

The Bavarians need to repeat this to put pressure on the Real Madrid centre-backs. Marcelo can be targeted and at times, easily bypassed because he bombards forward very frequently.

Kimmich can keep Asensio busy when Bayern are in possession by surging forward, forcing the Spaniard to track back. He is also capable of nullifying Asensio's threat when Madrid try to penetrate through the left-flank.

#3 Being clinical in front of goal

The Bavarians must be efficient with their goalscoring chances

"I think I never saw Real Madrid this weak in a match in Munich. We could have won 7-2," said Joshua Kimmich after the first leg. Though the statement might be an over-exaggeration, the chances missed by the hosts in the first leg were plenty.

Chance after chance fell in the way of the Bayern attackers who either shot it straight at Keylor Navas or simply made a mess of it. Clear cut opportunities were missed by the Bavarians and they paid dearly for it at the final whistle.

Bayern attempted 10 shots more than Madrid in the first leg but they were not able to trouble the back of the net more than once..

This is simply not good for a side eyeing yet another historic treble. Hence, going into the second leg, Lewandowski and co. must not forget to bring their scoring boots to the Bernabeu.

The Madrid defence will give them chances to pounce upon and the attackers from Bavaria must not waste any opportunity to make the most of it.

#2 Doubling up on a makeshift right back

Lucas Vazquez may play as a right back tonight

Dani Carvajal is out of contention for the second leg and Achraf Hakimi is not included in the match day squad. It means that Real Madrid will most probably start with Lucas Vazquez at the right back position. Nacho is included the squad but his situation is said to be touch and go.

He has been injured for a month now and hasn't trained with the first team squad at all. It does not seem plausible that Nacho will straightaway be thrown into the mix in such a big game without any sort of match fitness.

This means that Vazquez, a winger, will probably be Real Madrid's right-back tonight.

Bayern Munich can target him on the night and can use the right flank as brilliantly as they did in the first leg. If Franck Ribery replicates his first leg form,there is every chance that Vazquez will be in for a long night.

Also, David Alaba is fit enough to start tonight! This means that Bayern will have the deadly duo of Alaba and Ribery on the left wing that has been tormenting defenders for quite a long time now.

By overlapping Ribery or by getting into the midfield spaces to dominate the area with numbers, Alaba plays a huge role in Bayern Munich's attacks. Real Madrid have their task cut out to keep not one but two left-wing tormentors in check.

#1 Shutting down the service to Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid rely heavily on Cristiano Ronaldo's brilliance in front of goal

The great man has undergone a serious transformation in the past year or so. From tearing down defences from the left wing, he has now gone on to become a menace in and around the penalty spot.

His increased spatial awareness in and around the D-box has led him to score a ton of goals this season, with his finishing abilities now being better than ever before.

But Ronaldo now relies heavily on proper service and if that is shut down, the forward can be kept quiet. Bayern Munich managed that to perfection in the first leg as Ronaldo had one of his quietest games in Europe.

One long range and one insane bicycle kick aside, 13 of Ronaldo's 15 Champions League goals this season have come due to his smart play in the box.

Bayern will need to cut down the service to him from the wide areas and from the midfield, which is already half achieved by an injury to Isco.

For the crosses coming into the box, Niklas Sule must stay close to Ronaldo and not give any space for the Portuguese to use his aerial prowess. Bayern Munich centre-backs will have to man-mark him throughout the game and keep a close eye on his deceptive movement in the box.

If Bayern Munich do manage to keep Cristiano Ronaldo silent, more than half of the battle will be won in the process.