The Hard Tackle takes a closer at a classic clash between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid before the two teams square up against each other in the Champions League semi-finals.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid both have a rich history in the UEFA Champions League. The two teams have won the competition on 20 occasions with Los Blancos lifting the silverware on 14 occasions and the Bavarians winning it on six occasions.
The two teams have squared up against each other in Europe’s premier competition on multiple occasions. These meetings have produced some incredible results over the years, and the fans are all set to witness another classic tie between the two giants in the semi-finals of the competition this time around.
Bayern Munich might not have had the best of seasons this time out, but they have made it to the penultimate stage and are just one step away from the final. The disappointment of losing the Bundesliga could all be wiped away if they can go on and claim their seventh Champions League title.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have been a dominant force throughout the season. They are on course to win yet another La Liga title and have a chance of making it to yet another European final by defeating their old rivals Bayern Munich.
Before we focus on the upcoming 1st leg of the semi-final clash between the two teams at the Allianz Arena, The Hard Tackle relives a classic clash between the two from back in the day.
Laying the setting
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have faced each other on 26 occasions in the history of the competition. The head-to-head record between the two teams is quite even as the team in white have come out on top on 12 occasions, while the Bavarian giants have 11 wins to their name.
The two sides have met each other in the knockout rounds of the competition on 12 occasions. Real Madrid have progressed to the next stage on seven occasions, while Bayern have made it past Los Blancos on five occasions.
Since losing to Bayern Munich in the 2011/12 Champions League semi-finals on penalties, Real Madrid have won the last three ties. The Spanish club won the 2013/14 semi-finals 5-0, the 2016/17 quarter-finals 6-3, and the 2017/18 semi-finals 4-3.
Los Blancos will look to continue their dominance when they face Bayern in the semi-finals once again. Real Madrid managed to knockout treble winners Manchester City to make it to the semi-finals. They have been consistent performers since the start of the season, and Carlo Ancelotti will look to ensure they once again get the job done.
The German giants are heading into this fixture after defeating Premier League leaders Arsenal in the quarter-finals. They might have failed to retain the Bundesliga title, but the win over the Gunners will be a huge boost for them.
While it has been a disappointing season for Thomas Tuchel’s team, they do have an opportunity to turn things around by defeating Los Blancos in this semi-finals. A win here could give them the confidence to go on and win the UEFA Champions League. Before the semi-final tie gets underway, let us relive a classic class that took place on April 29, 2014.
What happened on April 29, 2014?
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid crossed paths in the 2011/12 Champions League semi-finals. The Spanish club were one of the most dangerous teams in Europe at that point in time under Jose Mourinho.
They were expected to go past the Bavarians, but their key players missed their penalties in the shoot-out and ended up getting knocked out. It was one of the hardest defeats in the history of the club as they had done almost everything right until that point.
🎙️ José Mourinho: "The penalty defeat in the 2012 Champions League semi-final against Bayern is one of the most painful of my career. Unfortunately, it's football. Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Sergio Ramos missed their penalties..
Three complete football monsters but they are… pic.twitter.com/7nIjSuiSQ9
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) October 26, 2023
The two teams met again in the 2013/14 edition of the UEFA Champions League and once again, it was a semi-final tie. The first leg was played at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the home team despite not being at their best managed to come out on top with a 1-0 scoreline thanks to a Karim Benzema strike.
Six days later on April 29, the two teams squared up against each other in the second leg at the Allianz Arena. It was expected to be a very tough game for Los Blancos despite the fact that they had a goal advantage.
Bayern dominated the proceedings, they had more of the ball and created more chances on the night. But Die Roten failed to find the back of the net. Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo, who had both missed their penalties in the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League semi-final tie, were the heroes of Real Madrid’s win this time around.
Ramos headed home a Luka Modric corner in the 16th minute to give Real Madrid the lead and four minutes later, he doubled it up. Despite all their attempts, Bayern were unable to break down the Spanish club’s defence.
A perfectly executed counter-attack was slotted home by Ronaldo, making it 3-0 on the night in the 34th minute, and it became almost impossible for the German club to script a comeback as they were 4-0 down on aggregate and had conceded thrice in their backyard.
While Bayern Munich did throw everything at Los Blancos, it still was not good enough, and Ronaldo found the back of the net in the 90th minute to make it 4-0 on the night and 5-0 on aggregate. The team in white had avenged the defeat they had suffered in the 2011/12 campaign in some fashion.
10 years ago, today. Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich 4-0 at Allianz Arena. pic.twitter.com/PniztxpyC3
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) April 28, 2024
The Aftermath
This win over Bayern Munich laid the foundation for La Decima as the team in white went on to end their 12-year wait for the Champions League title. They faced city rivals Atletico Madrid in the final and were trailing by a goal in injury time.
92:48 is what the clock read when skipper Sergio Ramos headed home a Luka Modric corner to take the game into extra time. In extra-time, it was all Real Madrid and they eased past their local rivals to clinch their 10th Champions League title.
📅 On this day, in 2014, Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid in the Champions League final to win La Décima.
Sergio Ramos had equalised in the 93rd minute before Real ran away with it in extra time thanks to goals from Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo. pic.twitter.com/6pi1guMqSV
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 24, 2022
It was the beginning of Real Madrid’s indomitable dominance in the Champions League. Since winning the 2014 edition, they have added four more titles and could make it 15 this time around. Carlo Ancelotti was the manager who guided Real Madrid to the tenth title. A decade later, he once again faces Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and has an opportunity to guide Los Blancos to their 15th crown.
