"The Most Unsympathetic Club in Europe": Former FC Bayern Defender Slams Real Madrid

Markus Babbel hopes for Bayern's advancement in the Champions League, and not solely due to his past with FCB. The former national player is rooting for his old club, Bayern Munich, in their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, partly because he isn't a fan of the prestigious Spanish club.

In a talk show, the 1996 European champion stated: "Real is one of the most unsympathetic clubs in Europe, and it would be wonderful if Bayern were to advance." This statement was met with considerable applause from the audience. The discussion also touched upon Real Madrid's alleged boycott of the 2024 Ballon d'Or following Vinicius Junior's second-place finish.

Bayern and Real will face each other for the first leg this Tuesday evening at the Bernabéu. The return match will take place eight days later at the Allianz Arena.

Ahead of the Duel with FC Bayern: "Unexpected Setback" for Real Madrid

Despite Bayern's recent boost in confidence after overturning a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 against Freiburg on Saturday, while Real simultaneously lost 1-2 to Mallorca, Babbel sees no clear favorite: "Due to Real's individual class, it's an even match." The victory in Freiburg merely means "you go into the game with a good feeling," Babbel added. His former teammate Stefan Effenberg also assessed the chances in the pairing as "50/50."

In Spain, however, there is a sense of alarm. The defeat in Mallorca was not only a failed dress rehearsal for the Bayern match but also a significant setback in the race for the Spanish championship. Spanish media reacted strongly to the defeat; one newspaper described the situation as a "crossroad" for Real, while another characterized their play as a "capitulation," suggesting the title had been "given away" to FC Barcelona, who are now seven points ahead.

It was another setback for a team that has shown significant inconsistency in their domestic league this season. However, the focus of the success-accustomed Madrid players seems to be primarily on the European Cup. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa left no doubt about this.

"I expect them to give their best in the Champions League, in a competition of the utmost importance. When they leave the changing room, they should only be thinking about Bayern," Arbeloa advised his players: "I know what my players are capable of and that they understand the significance of Tuesday's match."

In the Champions League, the record winners' offense, featuring star players like Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior, has recently demonstrated its class. They defeated Pep Guardiola's Manchester City 3-0 and 2-1 in the round of 16.

Real Madrid's Record Transfers:

Player	Position	Signed From	Year	Transfer Fee
Jude Bellingham	Midfield	Borussia Dortmund	2023	127 Million Euros
Eden Hazard	Midfield	FC Chelsea	2019	120.8 Million Euros
Gareth Bale	Forward	Tottenham Hotspur	2013	101 Million Euros
Cristiano Ronaldo	Forward	Manchester United	2009	94 Million Euros
Aurelien Tchouameni	Midfield	AS Monaco	2022	80 Million Euros
Zinedine Zidane	Midfield	Juventus	2001	77.5 Million Euros
James Rodriguez	Midfield	AS Monaco	2014	75 Million Euros
Kaka	Midfield	AC Milan	2009	67 Million Euros
Luka Jovic	Forward	Eintracht Frankfurt	2019	63 Million Euros
Dean Huijsen	Defence	AFC Bournemouth	2024	62.5 Million Euros