It’s the most common fixture in European football and it returns in this year’s Champions League, as Bayern Munich play Real Madrid. It’s the 25th meeting between the teams and the seventh in a European Cup semi-final. The two sides met in last season’s quarter-finals and it was Madrid who came out on top as they prepared to win a second consecutive Champions League title.
Bayern have already wrapped up their sixth consecutive Bundesliga title, after beating Augsburg 4-1 at the beginning of April. They won the league with five games to play and come into this match with plenty of confidence, having beaten Hannover 96 3-0 on Saturday. There have been plenty of goals for the Bavarian giants in 2018 as they’ve scored 69 goals in their 20 fixtures. They’re unbeaten at home this season, but it’s hard to judge their record as their league isn’t competitive. Their toughest test this season was against Paris St. Germain in the group stage, where they lost 3-0, in a game which cost Carlo Ancelotti his job.
Real Madrid have had a disappointing season by their standards and they’re currently third in La Liga, 15 points behind runaway leaders Barcelona. However, they’ve come into their own in the Champions League, where they’re aiming to win an unprecedented three consecutive titles. Once again, Cristiano Ronaldo has been their star player and he’s scored 15 goals in this year’s competition, seven more than any other player. He’s scored 22 goals in his last 12 matches and has shown no signs of diminishing with age.
Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid Predictions
Semi-finals are always tough games to predict, especially as Bayern are relatively untested this season. However, Jupp Heynckes has an excellent record in this competition and they’re very experienced when it comes to this stage of the competition. Real Madrid are good value to qualify though and I think they’ll do it. Ronaldo will step up to the plate and Manuel Neuer is a big loss for the Bavarians.
Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid Betting Tips
- Bayern Munich to win: Evens
- Draw: 53/20
- Real Madrid to win: 53/20
- Cristiano Ronaldo to score anytime: 21/20
Head to Head
- This is the clubs’ fourth two-legged tie in seven seasons, Madrid winning two of those to Bayern’s one. Overall, the teams have played in 11 previous knockout contests, all in the European Cup. Madrid winning six and Bayern five.
- Madrid have won their last five matches against Bayern, scoring 13 goals and conceding four.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has seven goals in his last three appearances against Bayern and nine in six matches overall.
- Bayern have lost their last three semi-finals, having won the previous four.
- Madrid’s win in Munich last season ended Bayern’s Champions League record of 16 successive home victories. That was the first European game in Munich they failed to win since a 4-0 defeat by the same opponents in their 2013/14 semi-final second leg.
- That Madrid defeat also ended a run of three straight Bayern victories at home to Spanish opponents. Overall, Bayern’s record against La Liga clubs in Munich is W18 D6 L3.
- Jupp Heynckes’ side recorded an 8=1 aggregate win against Besiktas in this season’s round of 16, including a 5-0 win in Munich that was the biggest home first-leg victory in the Champions League knockout phase.
- This is Real Madrid’s 29th European Cup semi-final overall, with the record W15 L13. They have won just three of their last eight semi-final ties.
- The 12-time European champions have won 149 Champions League matches. Their next victory will make them the first team to 150.
- The holders have already won in Germany this season, beating Borussia Dortmund 3-1 in the group stage. The Spanish side won the return fixture 3-2 in December.
- Overall, their record in Germany is W6 D7 L19, five of those wins coming in their last eight visits.
- James Rodriguez won the Champions League with Real in each of the past two seasons. Victory with Bayern would make him just the fifth player to win the competition with two different clubs in consecutive years, after Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa, Gerard Pique and Samuel Eto’o.
- Heynckes has reached the final in all three of his Champions League campaigns, winning the competition twice, with Real in 1998 and Bayern in 2013.
- As well as James and Heynckes, Arjen Robben and Toni Kroos will be up against their former clubs.
- Ronaldo is the top scorer in this season’s competition with 15 goals, 10 more than Robert Lewandowski. Both men are tied on 38 goals in all competitions in 2017/18 though.
Bayern Munich Team News
Manuel Neuer has returned to training since suffering a broken metatarsal in September, but is unlikely to feature. Kingsley Coman suffered an ankle injury in February and hasn’t played since, while Arturo Vidal underwent knee surgery last week and won’t play again this season.
Probable Bayern Munich XI: Sven Ulreich, Joshua Kimmich, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, David Alaba, Javi Martinez, Thiago Alcantara, Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller, James Rodriguez, Robert Lewandowski
Real Madrid Team News
Sergio Ramos returns from a one-match ban to take his place in the heart of the defence, but Nacho is unlikely to feature as he’s suffering from a muscle strain. Gareth Bale might have to settle for a spot on the bench.
Probable Real Madrid XI: Keylor Navas, Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Isco, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo
