The MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will host a heavyweight soccer showdown this Wednesday, August 3rd when German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich duke it out with Spanish La Liga giants and reigning European champions Real Madrid. The match is a part of the 17-team International Champions Cup tournament which is currently taking place at various locations in China, the USA, Europe and Australia. The event features top teams from the Spanish, Scottish, English, German, French, Italian and Australian leagues. Any game that ends in a draw will be decided by a penalty shootout. This is the third game of the event for both teams.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid – Pinnacle Soccer Betting Line:
- bet365 currently lists Bayern Munich as the solid favorite to win at +114 with Real Madrid +249 and a draw at +269
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid – Head to Head:
- These two clubs have met 22 times in the past with all games being in the European Cup/Champions League competition. Bayern Munich leads the way with 11 wins, nine losses and two draws and has outscored Real 33-31. Their last meetings took place in the 2013/14 semifinals of the Champions League with Real winning 1-0 at home and 4-0 in Munich.
Bayern Munich – A Closer Look:
This is the sixth preseason outing for Bayern Munich. They beat SV Lippstadt 4-3 in their first game, Manchester City 1-0 in their second and SpVgg Landshut 3-0 before entering the ICC tournament. They played to a 3-3 draw against Italian Serie A side AC Milan in Chicago on July 27th and were 5-3 losers in the ensuing penalty shootout. Franck Ribery with a pair and David Alaba were the scorers for Bayern. The German champions then took in Inter Milan three days later in Charlotte, North Carolina and came away with a 4-1 win. American forward Julian Green had a hat trick for the winners while Ribery scored the other. Inter Milan broke the shutout with a goal in the final minute of the game. Dutch international winger Arjen Robben will be missing against Real Madrid as he’s out for six weeks with an injury.
New manager Carlo Ancelotti of Italy has added some new players to his squad as German international Mats Hummels and 18-year-old Portuguese international Renato Sanches have been acquired. Bayern won the Bundesliga title last year with a record of 28 wins, four draws and two losses for 88 points. They finished 10 points ahead of runners up Borussia Dortmund and scored 80 goals while allowing 17 against. Bayern is Germany’s most successful soccer club with a total of 26 domestic championships and 18 national cups. The team was formed in 1900 and has won five European Cup/Champions League titles along with a UEFA Cup, a European Cup Winners’ Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup and a pair of Intercontinental Cups.
Real Madrid – A Closer Look:
Real Madrid opened their ICC tournament with a 3-1 loss to French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain last in Columbus, Ohio on July 27th. Marcelo scored Madrid’s lone goal on a penalty kick. Manager Zinedine Zidane wasn’t happy with his team’s performance and his son Enzo Zidane made his senior debut for Real in the contest. Zidane was a bit happier three days later as his side downed Chelsea of the English Premier League 3-2 in front of 105,826 fans at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Marcelo scored in the 19th and 26th minutes and Mariano made it 3-0 in the 37th. However Real took their foot off the gas as Chelsea attempted a comeback with goals in the 80th and 91st minutes. Star forward Cristiano Ronaldo is still out for Real due to an injury suffered in the Euro 2016 Final for Portugal.
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Real was founded in 1902 and has never been relegated from the top-tier Primera Division. They’ve won a record 32 Spanish league titles along with 19 Copa del Rey championships, nine Supercopa de Espana titles, and one Copa Eva Duarte and Copa de la Liga. In international competition, the team has claimed a record 11 European Cup/Champions League titles along with three Intercontinental Cups, two UEFA Cups, a pair of UEFA Super Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup. Real Madrid finished in second place in La Liga last year with 90 points, just one back of champions Barcelona. Real had 28 wins, six draws and four losses with 110 goals scored and just 34 allowed. Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez aren’t expected to be in the lineup.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid – Takeaway:
There’s no such thing as a friendly when these two teams are involved. Both squads will be looking for all three points and to entertain the fans.
by Ian S. Palmer