Zinedine Zidane must unshackle Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo against Bayern Munich

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    Bayern Munich require “cool heads and hot hearts” to climb past Real Madrid and into the Champions League final, according to their chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

    The Bavarians are 2-1 down after defeat at Allianz Arena and are up against it to secure passage, with Madrid likely to turn up the temperature at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.

    But there are strategic considerations for both sides and with that in mind, we examine some of the key tactics for Zinedine Zidane and Jupp Heynckes.

    ATTACK THE FULL-BACKS

    Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo

    Real Madrid’s Brazil defender Marcelo

    It’s an obvious area for exploitation but if Bayern are to regain control, avenues out wide will provide a route back into the tie.

    The Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of Marcelo was on full display in Munich, his attacking talent in grabbing the equaliser arriving after his negligent positioning for the opener – he was virtually off the pitch as Joshua Kimmich burst into open grass.

    The Brazil left-back can be so high up the pitch at times he’s often closer to the opposition box than his own when the ball breaks. In the absences of Kingsley Coman and Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller’s craft on the right-side for Bayern could prove profitable.

    But like crossing a T junction, it’s not just right but left which needs attention.

    Dani Carvajal is absent for Real after limping out for the first-leg and Lucas Vazquez will likely drop in to replace his Spanish counterpart as he did towards the end in Munich.

    While he is versatile, Franck Ribery will look to isolate him one v one from the off and that prospect should have the veteran Frenchman licking his lips.

    UNSHACKLE RONALDO

    Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo

    Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo

    Cristiano Ronaldo is the Champions League’s finest goalscorer and with 15 goals in the competition so far this season, his pedigree is clear.

    However, in Germany the 33-year-old was shackled in the spearhead of Zidane’s disjointed 4-1-4-1.

    The tactic to sit back, soak up pressure and spring their attacks on the counter relied heavily upon the performance of Isco to provide the ingenuity for his intelligently angled runs.

    But the Spain playmaker was poor, Madrid ended up running into traffic through the middle and it took the appearance of Marco Asensio from the bench in a wider berth on the left to really make it an effective away-day performance.

    In Madrid, while Zidane knows Bayern require two goals at least, the rollicking Juventus comeback in the quarter-finals is a warning to kill the tie off early.

    Ronaldo needs a partner alongside him and either Asensio, Karim Benzema or Gareth Bale must be brought into the XI to occupy some of the visitor’s attentions.

    SET-PIECE DELIVERY

    Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez

    Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez

    This is a note for both. Madrid have shown repeatedly this season they are fallible from a decent delivery, whether it be from the wide areas or a set-piece.

    Keylor Navas’ propensity to punch rather than gather can breed a little insecurity, while the full-backs – it always seems to be Carvajal – are often left in lopsided one-v-one aerial battles.

    James Rodriguez has a heat-seeking left-foot and although the likes of Muller and Robert Lewandowski froze in front of goal last week, they could be prime targets for the Colombia playmaker in the Spanish capital.

    Equally, Toni Kroos is one of the best deadball specialists in world football, from wide free-kick positions of course with Ronaldo taking the responsibility with a sight of goal, and on either corner.

    Three of the German’s six La Liga assists this season have been conjured from corners and his ability to blend pace, height and spin makes for a devilishly difficult delivery to defend.

    Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and perhaps even Bale are all proven aerial goalscorers and if Real are looking to kill the tie off, set-pieces could be the way through the German wall.

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