The return of an historical rivalry: Bayern Munich.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich know each other perfectly well, despite not having faced each other in a European competition in a long time. The classic clash returns when both teams happen to be going through a very different phase. Real Madrid are living a time of change and successful progress, while the Germans rely mostly on their waning stars, but still prove to be a dangerous team with a lot to offer. The Champions League returns to the Bernabéu and Real Madrid will fight hard to win their favourite trophy once more.

Bayern Munich will be Real Madrid's rival in the last 16 of the Champions League. The German side are an "old foe" of the Whites, against whom they've played some of the most vibrant and exciting final rounds of the competition in recent years. Bayern still have some of the players they had in their ranks when they faced Real Madrid three consecutive years. They are an aggressive and creative side that stands strong in their new stadium, the Allianz Arena, but that proves much weaker in away games.

Bayern Munich may not be the dominant team of the Bundesliga, but they are still strong, currently holding the fourth position behind Werder Bremmen, Shalke 04 and Stuttgart, who are complicating things for Felix Magath's men in a competition that relies heavily on regularity. Nevertheless, they are only three points away from the top spot and they are the best performing team in home games.

The principal difference to the team this season is the absence of their star, Michael Ballack, who is currently playing for Mourinho's Chelsea. His substitute is a young Polish player named Lucas Podolski, a left footed forward with a natural instinct to score. He is normally accompanied in the attack by veterans Pizarro and Roy Makaay.

Their midfield is guarded by two important players, Van Bommel -known to Spanish crowds for his brief spell at Barcelona- and Schweinsteiger -who has a similar style to Effenberg's. Their defense is comprised by Lahm as left back -the best in his position after Roberto Carlos- Sagnol as right back and Lucio. Legendary keeper Oliver Kahn still guards their goal.

The Teutonic squad also holds other quality players, such as Sebastián Deisler, -who has never really had the chance of shining due to his frailty- Owen Hargreaves Salihamidzic -one of the surviving members from the classic clashes with the Whites- and Roque Santa Cruz, a very good attacking alternative for the Germans.

The first match will be played in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium either the 20 or 21 February 2007, and the return game will take place in Munich on the 6 or 7 March. The winners of the second round of the competition will enter a new draw held on 9 March in Athens to decide which teams face each other in the quarterfinals.

Bayern Munich Established: 1900 Stadium: Allianz Arena. Capacity: 66,000 Coach: Felix Magath Captain: Oliver Kahn European Cup appearances: 24, 10 of which were in the Champions League Track Record 20 German Leagues 13 German Cups 5 League Cups 2 Intercontinental Cups 4 European Cups 1 Cup Winners' Cup 1 UEFA Cup Performance in the Champions League in recent years: 2005/06: Last 16 2004/05: Quarterfinals 2003/04: Last 16 2002/03: Second Group Stage 2001/02: Quarterfinals 2000/01: Winner

SQUAD

Nº	PLAYER	POSITION	AGE
1	Oliver Kahn	Goalkeeper	37
22	Michel Rensing	Goalkeeper	24
29	Bernd Dreher	Goalkeeper	40
2	Willy Sagnol	Defender	29
3	Lucio	Defender	28
5	Daniel van Buyten	Defender	28
18	Andreas Görlitz	Defender	24
21	Philipp Lahm	Defender	23
25	Valérien Ismael	Defender	31
30	Christian Lell	Defender	22
6	Martin Demichelis	Midfielder	26
7	Mehmet Scholl	Midfielder	36
8	Ali Karimi	Midfielder	28
17	Van Bommel	Midfielder	29
19	Julio dos Santos	Midfielder	23
20	Hasan Salihamidzic	Midfielder	29
23	Owen Hargreaves	Midfielder	25
26	Sebastian Deisler	Midfielder	26
31	Schweinsteiger	Midfielder	22
36	Stephan Fürstner	Midfielder	19
39	Andreas Ottl	Midfielder	21
10	Roy Makaay	Forward	31
11	Lukas Podolski	Forward	21
14	Claudio Pizarro	Forward	28
24	Roque Santa Cruz	Forward	25
Coach: Felix Magath.

Real Madrid to face Bayern Munich in the Last 16 in UEFA Champions League.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will face each other in the second round of the 2006/07 Champions League. The German side are a classic rival of the Whites' in the competition and will once again prove to be a tough rival on Real Madrid's way to winning their tenth European Cup. The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium will receive Bayern Munich either on 20 or 21 February 2007, while the return game will be held in Munich on 6 or 7 March.


2006/07 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 DRAW: ----------------------------------------------------------

Porto (POR)-Chelsea (ENG) Celtic (SCO)-AC Milan (ITA). PSV Eindhoven (HOL)-Arsenal (ENG). Lille (FRA)-Manchester United (ENG). AS Roma (ITA)-Olympique Lyonnais (FRA). Barcelona (SPA)-Liverpool (ENG). REAL MADRID (SPA)-Bayern Múnich (GER). Valencia (SPA)-Internazionale Milano (ITA).

MATCH REPORT: DYNAMO KYIV VS REAL MADRID.

Matchday 6 of the Champions League had little riding on it for Real Madrid and their opponent, Dynamo Kyiv. With the Whites already through to the Last 16 of the competition, and the Ukrainians playing for pride in this campaign, Fabio Capello used the match as a screening test for several members of the Castilla youth squad. In a relatively lackluster performance by both sides, Ronaldo was able to score his first two goals in Europe in two years to draw the match moments before the final whistle.


MATCH REPORT:
--------------------------

2 – DYNAMO KYIV: Shovkovskiy; Markovic, Rodrigo, Rodolfo, Nesmachniy; Gusev, Yssuf, Mikhalik, Belkevich; Milevskiy (Rotan 84’) and Shatskikh.

2 – REAL MADRID Casillas; Salgado, Mejía, Torres, Roberto Carlos; Beckham, Diarra, De la Red (Javi García 69’), Nieto (Valero 68’); Cassano and Ronaldo.
GOALS:
1-0, min. 13: Shatskikh strikes good ball crossed in from left wing.
2-0, min. 27: Shatskikh beats Diego López off ricochet.
2-1, min. 86: Ronaldo sends ball into net after lovely flick on by Javi García.
2-2, min. 88: Ronaldo penalty kick.
REFEREE: Michael Riley (England). Yellow cards to Rodrigo (28’) and Ronaldo (36’).
NOTES: Matchday 6 of the group stage of the Champions League.

Dynamo Kiev 2-2 Real Madrid.

Dynamo Kiev		Real Madrid
2		2
GOALS
Maksim Shatskikh 13 Maksim Shatskikh 27		Ronaldo 86 Ronaldo (pen) 88
YELLOW CARDS
Rodrigo 29		Ronaldo 37

Guti to miss out for Madrid!

Guti has been ruled out of action for Real Madrid CF for the next three weeks after suffering a groin injury in last night's 2-2 draw with Olympique Lyonnais.


Extended absence

The 30-year-old midfielder, who has just extended his contract at the Santiago Bernabéu until 2010, was substituted in the 21st minute of the UEFA Champions League encounter following a collision with Jérémy Toulalan. Tests have confirmed the early diagnosis that he has a small abductor tear. Guti was set to miss the next two league games anyway after being sent off on Saturday in the 3-1 victory against Real Racing Club Santander but could well not return until after the winter break, which runs from 20 December to 7 January.

Van Nistelrooy: "It's disappointing to miss a penalty after equalising with character."

All eyes were on Ruud Van Nistelrooy in the 89th minute, when he had the chance of winning the match with a penalty kick. Coupet managed to save the shot how upset he was. “I'm disappointed," he said. "It was important for the team, especially after coming back from being down 2-0."

"I'm disappointed with the penalty. It was important for the team, especially after coming back from being down 2-0. I'm very disappointed. I didn't hit the ball well. Nevertheless, drawing 2-2 after turning around a two goal deficit is a good result. They didn't have as many chances in the second half. I've taken five penalties so far this season and I've missed three. We have another important match on Sunday, and we will have to play like we did in the second half today."

Match Report: Real Madrid Vs Olympique Lyonnais.

Real Madrid had to settle for second place in their group after drawing 2-2 against Olympique Lyon. Capello's side were thankful to save a point though after going two down in the first half hour, Carew forcing his way through to open the scoring early on and Malouda getting ahead of the defence to turn Juninho's free kick past Casillas for the second. Diarra headed one back before the break though, and Van Nistelrooy levelled the scores seven minutes from the end, scoring from close up after Raúl had headed a Roberto Carlos cross against the foot of the post. And Madrid could have won it two minutes from the end had Coupet not saved Van Nistelrooy's penalty after the striker had been brought down by Cris.


Match Report:
---------------------

Real Madrid 2 - 2 Olympique Lyon

Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Diarra, Emerson (Cassano 75'); Reyes, Raúl, Robinho; Van Nistelrooy. 4-2-3-1.

Lyon: Coupet; Reveillère, Cris, Squillacci, Abidal; Tiago, Juninho Pernambucano, Toulalan (Diarra 90'); Clerc, Carew, Malouda. 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 11. Carew. Picked up ball outside area and held off challenge to beat Casillas.
0-2. 31. Malouda. Got ahead of defence to turn Junninho free kick past keeper.
1-2. 39. Diarra. Headed past Coupet after Van Nistelrooy headed on Reyes corner.
2-2. 83. Van Nistelrooy. From a few inches out after Raúl headed against post.

Real Madrid 2 : 2 Lyon.

Real Madrid		Lyon
2		2
GOALS
Mahamadou Diarra 39 Ruud van Nistelrooij 83		John Carew 11 Florent Malouda 31
YELLOW CARDS
Roberto Carlos 75 Fabio Cannavaro 83 Raul Gonzalez 90 Sergio Ramos 90		Jeremy Toulalan 20 Anthony Reveillere 50 Juninho Pernambucano 54 Florent Malouda 90

Teamsheet Vs Olympique Lyonnais.

With Ronaldo and Beckham both scratched due to injury, Fabio Capello has called up 19 men for Tuesday's Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Olympique Lyonnais at theSantiago Bernabéu. The only surprise is the inclusion of youth teamer Javi García, who may have the opportunity to make his Champions League debut with the First Team.

SQUAD LIST:

Goalkeepers: Casillas, Diego López

Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Míchel Salgado, Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Mejía, Cannavaro, Pavón, Raúl Bravo

Midfielders: Diarra, Emerson, Guti, Raúl, Robinho, Reyes, Javi García

Forwards: Cassano, Van Nistelrooy.

Match Report: Real Madrid Vs Steaua Bucharest.

MATCH REPORT: 1 – REAL MADRID Casillas; Ramos, Helguera, Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Raúl, Emerson, Diarra (Beckham 58’), Robinho (Reyes 85’); Guti and Van Nistelrooy (Ronaldo 73’). 0 – STEAUA BUCHAREST: Cernea, Goian, Oprita (Coman 84’), Petre, Nicolita, Marin, Paraschiv (Lovin 80’), Ghionea (Thereau 80’), Stancu, Dica and Badea . GOALS: 1-0, min. 69: Nicolita, own goal. REFEREE: Konrad Plautz (Austrian). Booked Nicolita (36’) and Cernea (66’). HIGHLIGHTS: Fourth match of the Champions League group stage played at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid join Valencia in the last sixteen after a 1-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest, although it was not their best performance and they only took the three points thanks to an own goal. The Romanian side showed much better form than at their own ground two weeks ago, with Badea wasting an early chance to put his side ahead, and Cernea was only troubled by a double effort from Van Nistelrooy before the break. Fabio Capello's side improved after the break, Robinho having a penalty appeal turned down, Diarra shooting wide and Iván Helguera somehow putting the ball over the crossbar after Sergio Ramos set him up a yard away from goal. However with twenty minutes to go Nicolita passed back to his keeper without checking he was there, and the ball rolled in to the empty net. Van Nistelrooy should have wrapped things up a few minutes later when the keeper brought down the striker in the area, but he fired his spot kick way off target. It didn't matter though, as Olympique Lyon's victory against Dynamo Kiev in the other group match means that both they and Madrid are qualified.

Real Madrid 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest

Real Madrid		Steaua Bucharest
1		0
GOALS
Banel Nicolita (og) 71
YELLOW CARDS
		Ovidiu Petre 18 Banel Nicolita 37 Cornel Cernea 73 Dorin Goian 75

Steaua Bucarest 1-4 Real Madrid.

Steaua Bucarest		Real Madrid
1		4
GOALS
Valentin Badea 64		Sergio Ramos 9 Raul Gonzalez 34 Robinho 57 Ruud van Nistelrooij 76
YELLOW CARDS
Nicolae Dica 28 Dorin Goian 74

Teamsheet for match against Steaua Bucarest.

Twenty players have been called up by Fabio Capello for Tuesday's 8:45 pm CET Champions League clash against Steaua Bucarest. The only three players who will not travel are injured Míchel Salgado, Reyes and Cicinho. Sergio Ramos returns to the team after carrying out his one game suspension against Getafe.


TEAMSHEET:
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Diego López, Adán.
Defenders: Roberto Carlos, Cannavaro, Raúl Bravo, Pavón, Helguera, Mejía, Sergio Ramos.
Midfielders: Diarra, Emerson, Beckham, Javi García, Guti, Robinho, Raúl.
Forwards: Cassano, Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy.
Not called up: Reyes, Cicino and Míchel Salgado all due to injury.

MY TEAM:
------------
1. Casillas
2. Mejia
3. Cannavaro
4. Sergio Ramos
5. Roberto Carlos
6. Diarra
7. Emerson
8. Beckham
9. Guti
10. Van Nistelrooy
11. Ronaldo.

Match Report: Real Madrid Vs Dynamo Kyiv.

The loss to Olympique Lyonnais two weeks ago is long forgotten, and Real Madrid are now in the second spot of Group E of the Champions League after blowing out Dynamo Kyiv 5-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Van Nistelrooy celebrated the birth of his daughter with two goals and Ronaldo enjoyed several minutes of playing time in his return to the field of play. It couldn't have been a better appetizer before Sunday's derby against Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid made their Champions League home debut with the primary objective of leaving behind the bad taste left after losing to Olympique Lyonnais in Matchday 1. And boy did they ever! There were several changes to the Madridista starting eleven. Avaro Mejía replaced Cicinho at right fullback after the Brazilian tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday's League victory over Betis. Capello didn't want to toy with the Ramos-Cannavaro connection, as their presence in the middle of the defensive line is proving very fruitful for the Italian coach. The duo have allowed one goal in the first four games of national competition.


MATCH SUMMARY:
-------------------------

5- REAL MADRID:Casillas; Mejía, Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos, Roberto Carlos; Guti, Emerson, Diarra, Reyes (Beckham, 45’); Raúl (Robinho, 84’) and Van Nistelrooy (Ronaldo, 71’).
1- DINAMO DE KIEV: Shovkovskiy; Gusev, Sabljic, Gavrancic, Nesmachniy; Diogo Rincón (Aliyev, 81’), Corrêa (Rybka, 69’), Yussuf, Belkevich; Milevskiy and Shatskikh.

GOALS:
1-0, min.19: Van Nistelrooy takes advantage of a poor clearing attempt by Shovkovskiy.
2-0, min.26: Raúl header.
3-0, min.45: Reyes.
3-1, min.47: Milevskiy.
4-1, min.60: Raúl off an individual play.
5-1, min.70: Van Nistelrooy penalty kick.

REFEREE:Graham Poll (England). Internatiional referee since 1996. Red card to Shovkovskiy.

HIGHLIGHTS: Matchday 2 of Group E of the Champions League played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Raúl, all-time top scorer of the Champions League.

Raul become the all-time top scorer of the Champions League after his two goal against yesterdays match.

Raul played very well and scored two great goals.

Congratulation to him.

Real Madrid 5-1 Dynamo Kyiv.

Real Madrid		Dynamo Kyiv
5		1
GOALS
Ruud van Nistelrooij 20 Raul Gonzalez 27 Jose Antonio Reyes 45 Raul Gonzalez 61 Ruud van Nistelrooij (pen) 70		Artem Milevskiy 47
RED CARDS
		Olexandr Shovkovskiy 68
YELLOW CARDS
Sergio Ramos 80		Maksim Shatskikh 66