Real Madrid's first game back after the March international break will be a tricky La Liga encounter with Mallorca on Saturday, but just a few days later, the beast awaits the team, as Real will renew their long standing Champions League rivalry with Bayern Munich - one with the same high stakes as Manchester City but with even richer history.
In their last Champions League triumph in 2023/24, Real Madrid survived Manuel Neuer and the Reds with a furious comeback led by local hero Joselu. This year, Bayern are even stronger with the vaunted front three of Harry Kane, Luis Diaz, and Michael Olise that is even putting Real's star studded attack to shame this season.
But there's a chance, even if it is just a small one at this point, that Los Blancos may not have to face Bayern's biggest star of them all and the main competitor to Kylian Mbappe's Ballon d'Or hopes this season, which could be sealed by what transpires in this Champions League quarterfinal.
Harry Kane may be injured
According to Diario AS reporter Mario de la Riva, there is some concern around Bayern Munich about superstar striker Harry Kane. The England international was forced out of action in the March international break, unable to play in Tuesday's game after sustaining a blow to the foot. Bayern doctors will be evaluating Kane in order to ascertain the extent of the injury with about a week remaining until the first leg of this high octane battle between Real Madrid and the Bundesliga's runaway leaders.
Kane is a tough guy and will most likely play on Tuesday, unless this foot injury turns out to be serious. But any hint of Kane being less than 100 percent is something Real Madrid have to take as a positive. The players of Real are such that they want to beat every top team in the world at their best, but you have to take any advantage you get at this stage of such an elite competition.
Real Madrid have real question marks in their defense, too. Raul Asencio and Eder Militao are coming back from injury, and Antonio Rudiger is starting to show his best form again after playing througuh pain for a while himself. If they are able to avoid Kane and instead face off against the highly inconsistent Nicolas Jackson, then that could be a game changer for a defense that struggles against elite players. And we all know Kane only needs the smallest of gaps to score bangers - just ask Atalanta.