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Published on Apr 30, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. by
George Boxall
Zinedine Zidane has made his choice between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash.
The impending clash between the real Madrid and the Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena is palpable, with fans bracing for a clash of the titans in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg. In the midst of this fervor, Zinedine Zidanea figure deeply rooted in the history of the two clubs, offered to give his point of view and discuss past meetings.
As a former player and coach of MerenguesZidane’s links with the real Madrid are profound and his thoughts on the decisive matches against the Bayern Munich evoke a feeling of nostalgia tinged with anticipation. In an interview given to The AthleticZidane delved into the annals of history, recalling one match in particular that left an indelible mark on his memory: the 2000 semi-final.
“Of all the Madrid-Bayern matches, the one that left the biggest impression on me was the 2000 semi-final,” says Zidane. “Madrid were struggling in the league (fifth in La Liga that season) and Nicolas Anelka was not in his best form either. He didn’t start, but he played in the semi-final and, both in the first leg and in the second leg, he was exceptional, scoring decisive goals that allowed Madrid to qualify.
“Madrid is Madrid”
The appeal of confrontations between these European giants is not lost on Zidane, who highlights the beauty and intensity of these encounters. “The matches we had with Bayern were always magnificent matches. These are the kind of matches we always want to play because Bayern are also competitive, very, very strong,” remarked Zidane.
As for the impending showdown, Zidane gave his views on the challenge ahead. “It won’t be easy. It’s a match that has the status of a European classic. But at the same time, Madrid is Madrid,” he said, referring to the history and pedigree of the Spanish giants.
