Real Madrid have a tough opponent ahead of them in the Champions League, but fortunately for Madrid, the Bavarians will be without midfielder Arturo Vidal.
Bayern Munich are going to be a challenge. Real Madrid managed to knock out their German rivals in the semi-finals in 2013-2014, and again in the quarter-finals of 2016-2017. With those results fresh on their memory, Bayern will be hoping to get some revenge when they meet again in the semi-finals of this year’s Champions League.
Revenge was precisely what was on Arturo Vidal’s mind when he learned his side was drawn against Real Madrid. Vidal tweeted out a warning: “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
La Venganza es un plato que se come frío!!👊🏼👊🏼Vamos carajo!!!💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼🤴🏽🤴🏽🤴🏽🤴🏽🤴🏽🤴🏽 pic.twitter.com/SOfLG8o17z
— Arturo Vidal (@kingarturo23) April 13, 2018
Unfortunately for Vidal, it looks like he’ll have to rely on his teammates to get his revenge for him. Vidal slipped up in training for Bayern and damaged his knee in the process, bad enough for it to require surgery. Vidal now has to undergo keyhole arthroscopic surgery on his knee, an operation that’s expected to take him out of action for at least three matches.
Arthroscopic surgery is less invasive than a full-on ACL replacement. It is usually used to repair ligaments that are slightly damaged but that don’t need a complete replacement. Doctors rely on a tiny camera to conduct the surgery through a small hole in the knee, cleaning up any loose ligament fibers which might be preventing full mobility.
Nevertheless, Vidal is expected to miss at least the first leg of Bayern’s tie against Real Madrid. Vidal has been a huge part of Bayern’s success this season, playing what Bundesliga.com has called “some of the very best football of his career.” Losing him will be a huge blow. Vidal is a really well-rounded box-to-box midfielder who adds a physical presence to the Bayern midfield. Vidal has thrived under the tutelage of Bayern’s caretaker manager Jupp Heynckes who took over after ex-Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was sacked earlier this season.
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Real Madrid have a difficult task ahead of themselves if they want to get through Bayern to reach a third consecutive final. But without Vidal standing in the way, that task got just a bit easier. It is always a shame to see good players unavailable through injury, and you never want to wish ill on another team’s players. But nevertheless, Real Madrid have to see Vidal’s absence as a boon to their chances in the semifinals.