Bayern Munich Vs. Real Madrid, 2012 UEFA Champions League: History Weighted Against Los Blancos

With recent form - and on-paper talent - seeming to indicate that Real Madrid should be heavily favoured over Bayern Munich, you might not be expecting Madrid fans to be worrying over their opponents. After all, it's not like they're facing Barcelona and the combined might of UNICEF (according to some). They're going up against a team that's second in the Bundesliga and one which just drew to 12th-place Mainz. At home.

And yet, the weight of history is bearing down on Los Blancos. They don't have a strong record against German sides (especially on their travels), and Bayern in particular have been very tricky opposition. As Dennis from Managing Madrid points out, his side have been knocked out at this stage of the competition by their current antagonists three out of the four times they've been drawn together:

Cue the ominous music as long-time Madridistas can certainly corroborate the fact that Germany is one place where los blancos have struggled throughout their illustrious history, winning only once in 22 attempts. More to the point, Madrid are also winless in their nine previous visits to Munich, losing three of the four previous semifinals ties against Bayern.

Madrid do, of course, have a trump card. Several, in fact. Disregarding the fact that they're the better side in most areas of the pitch, they also have a coach in Jose Mourinho who has what it takes to beat Bayern in big games - his most recent Champions League triumph came against this very side. Oh, and they have Cristiano Ronaldo too. I hear he's pretty good.

For more on Los Blancos, check out SB Nation Madrid blog Managing Madrid. For their opposition, visit Bavarian Football Works. We'll have more pre-game updates, as well as live coverage of the match, in this story stream, so stay tuned!