It’s something like the “Champions League Clasico”: FC Bayern meets Real Madrid in the semi-finals; it’s the 26th duel between the Germans and the Spanish record champions. No other pairing has occurred more often in the European Cup – an overview of the balance of the previous duels and the biggest games between the Munich team and the “Royal” team from Madrid.
In the 26 meetings between Bayern and Real so far, in the Champions League or in the national champions’ cup, the balance is almost even: twelve victories for Real Madrid compared to eleven victories for FC Bayern Munich, and there was a draw three times.
The two European heavyweights have actually never faced each other in a final. That won’t happen this year either, as only one of the two teams will make it to the final at Wembley Stadium in London.
In the semi-finals, Munich and the “Royal” will meet for the eighth time. The last three knockout duels in the Champions League all went to Madrid: the semi-finals of the 2017/18 season, the quarter-finals of 2016/17 and the semi-finals of 2013/14. In total, Munich have been waiting for a win against Real for seven games.
2018, 2017, 2014 – most recently always failed against Real
In the last duel so far, in the semi-finals in 2018, the then CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge saw his Munich team “the best Champions League game of the last five years”. Nevertheless, FC Bayern were eliminated after a strong performance at the Bernabeu and a 2-2 draw. They lost their place in the final in the first leg in Munich with a 2-1 defeat.
Semifinal Champions League arrow right
A year earlier there was an equally close duel in the quarter-finals: there too, the Munich team wasted the first leg (1:2), but made up for the deficit at the Bernabeu. The red card against Arturo Vidal marked Munich’s failure, and Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice more in extra time. Madrid prevailed with a 4-2 win.
The 2014 semi-final duel was very clear: Munich went into the second leg confident with a 1-0 defeat at the Bernabeu, but suffered a 4-0 defeat there. Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos each scored twice, it was Bayern’s heaviest home defeat in the European Cup.
Victory in the semi-finals in 2012 – on the way to the “finale at home”
The last time the Munich team prevailed in a knockout duel against Real Madrid was twelve years ago: Real equalized the 2-1 win in the first leg in Munich, after a last-minute goal from Mario Gomez in the second leg.
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The penalty shootout had to decide, where Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka missed against Manuel Neuer. But Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm also failed from the spot before Sergio Ramos chased the ball over the crossbar and gave Munich the famous “final at home”. The luck ran out there and Bayern lost to Chelsea in their own stadium.
Makaay scored the fastest goal in Champions League history in 2007
The duel against Real in the round of 16 in 2006/2007 is also unforgettable for the Munich fans. The “Royals” took a narrow 3-2 win from the first leg to Munich. Roy Makaay conceded Real’s lead after just ten seconds, with the fastest Champions League goal in history. The Munich team ultimately prevailed with a 2-1 win thanks to the away goals rule.
Bayern’s semi-final victory in 2001 thanks to Elber and Jeremies – on the way to the title
On the way to winning the title in 2001, the Munich team also had to eliminate the record champions from Madrid. Giovane Elber opened the door to the final with his 1-0 winning goal against Iker Caillas in the first leg of the semi-final at the Bernabeu. In the second leg, Elber scored again, and after Luis Figo’s equalizer, Jens Jeremies made it 2-1 and made it clear that they had reached the final.
Bayern gala in the semi-finals in 1987, Juanito kick against Matthäus
Another semi-final duel was also legendary, in the 1987 European Cup: FC Bayern overwhelmed the “Royals” in the first leg and were already 3-0 ahead after half an hour. Then Juanito caused a scandal by kicking Lothar Matthäus, who was lying on the ground. After the 4-1 win in the Olympic Stadium, there was nothing left for Munich in the second leg. However, Bayern lost the final as heavy favorites in Vienna against FC Porto, with Porto’s Rabah Madjer’s unforgettable backheel goal.
