"We have to shut out Cristiano Ronaldo as a team" - Bayern Munich defender Joshua Kimmich
Joshua Kimmich says Cristiano Ronaldo is "a goal machine", but has revealed how Bayern Munich plan to stop the five-time Ballon d'Or winner when the Bundesliga champions host holders Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
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Ronaldo has been in sensational form with Real in 2018, scoring 22 goals in his last 12 matches, and is the Champions League's all-time top scorer (120) ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi (100).
"You can only shut out a player like Ronaldo as a team," Kimmich told SPORTBILD. "He's a goal machine with an insane scoring record. We have to make sure that he isn't allowed to add to his tally."
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As Bayern's first-choice right-back, Kimmich will be directly in the firing line. The 22-year-old is playing in his first Champions League semi-final - and has only faced Ronaldo once before - but says fighting fire with fire is the only way to deal with a player of the Real No.7's stature.
"He plays a lot further forward these days, so not as much on the left, but when he comes I'll try to stay with him," Kimmich continued. "Obviously he's one of the best in the world - for some, the best - with [Lionel] Messi, but what are you supposed to do? You won't get far showing him too much respect."
Kimmich went on to single out Manuel Neuer stand-in goalkeeper Sven Ulreich for particular praise.
Ulreich has made 41 appearances in the absence of the injured Neuer in 2017/18, playing in all but one of Bayern's 10 Champions League assignments so far this term.
"Ulle has been in sensational form in recent months," Kimmich said. "He always comes up with the big saves, which is great for us.
"It's important for the team to know that the times when the back line is breached there's someone behind us who can salvage the situation."