England stars Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham headline Bayern-Real Madrid battle football news

Harry Kane will have to surpass Real Madrid and England team-mate Jude Bellingham if he is to win the Champions League with Bayern Munich and claim his first career trophy. Two of England’s superstars face each other in Tuesday’s semi-final first leg in the Bavarian capital, with less than two months to go before Euro 2024 begins at the same venue. With a decade difference in age, the two have followed very different paths so far in their careers, but they have become extremely important to their respective European giants since joining forces in the summer.

Kane has been the only player to consistently shine in a struggling Bayern team this season.

Less than a year after leaving Germany, Bellingham has established himself as a member of the football elite, along with Kane and a few others.

And as they try to join forces in the summer, they will struggle to reach Wembley – England’s national stadium and the venue of this season’s Champions League final – on Tuesday.

‘I hope he’s calm’

Despite a stellar individual career after coming through the youth academy at Tottenham, 30-year-old Kane moved to Bayern in August, leaving England in the hope of winning a first-team trophy.

Long underrated, Kane has ended any doubts about his quality among Europe’s elite at Bayern this season.

While Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen have already won the Bundesliga, Kane’s 42 goals in all competitions this season are already the most he has scored in a campaign.

Bellingham, on the other hand, was a teenage talent and moved from hometown club Birmingham to Borussia Dortmund in 2020.

The fee of 30 million euros ($31.17 million) made him the most expensive 17-year-old player ever. Just three years later, he moved from Dortmund to Madrid for 103 million euros.

While Bellingham’s quality was obvious when he left Germany, few would have expected him to emerge as one of the world’s best players so quickly.

Bellingham has led injury-ravaged Madrid through tough stretches of the season and steered them to the league title with important goals, including late winners in both Clasico fixtures in La Liga.

After scoring two goals in Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt, Kane said he expected Bellingham to get the night off on Tuesday.

“As I’ve said before, he’s a great player,” Kane told reporters.

“Obviously, he’s had an amazing season. But from my point of view, I hope he stays calm in the next two games.”

Kane and Bellingham were “keeping it professional” and did not speak before Tuesday’s match, but “will talk before the game and after the game”.

‘A nice moment’

Kane and Bellingham have never faced each other before, but have played each other 22 times, losing only four matches.

The two have formed an on-field partnership, with Bellingham providing three assists for Kane at international level.

When Kane scored a late penalty during the 2022 World Cup quarter-final defeat to France, Bellingham was the first man to console the England captain.

At just 19, Bellingham became the youngest-ever Bundesliga captain when given the armband for Dortmund last season.

The midfielder is widely expected to take over as England captain whenever Kane decides to retire.

But while both of them represent the present and future of the Three Lions, only one will reach Wembley.

Kane said he would “hopefully get some goals” against Madrid.

“I’m confident I’m in a good moment and I can put something away,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the atmosphere – the atmosphere (in the quarter-final) against Arsenal was incredible.

“I hope it goes up another level and I’m really excited.”

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