After a thrilling round of ties in the Champions League, with Real Madrid advancing past defending champions Manchester City and Bayern Munich overcoming Arsenal, the stage is set for one of the great European semi-finals – Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich.
Two titans of the game go head-to-head in a semi-final for the ages.
It’s a fixture dripping with historical significance. Los Blancos are the most successful team in Champions League history, with 14 titles to their name.
Bayern Munich have also lifted the famous trophy six times.
It’s going to be a fascinating match-up. Read our full match preview below.
First Leg – Venue, Date, and Key Details
The game begins at 20:00 (GMT) on Tuesday 30th April. The action takes place at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
It goes without saying that the first leg is incredibly important and has a huge say on how the entirety of the tie unfolds.
If Real Madrid can take any sort of lead to Germany, the game will open up. The German giants will need to come out swinging, looking for the goal that will get them back into the match-up.
If Bayern manage to take a slender lead back home with them, the famous Bavarian home crowd could come into play. It would be backs-to-wall stuff against this Real Madrid outfit, though, given their wealth of attacking talents.
The ebbs and flows of the beautiful game will be on full display in what is an iconic match-up.
Second Leg – Venue, Date, and Key Details
The second leg will take place at 20:00 (GMT) on Wednesday 8th May at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.
With home advantage in the second leg, Bayern Munich wil fancy overturning any lead that falls within a couple of goals.
It’s the do-or-die game of the tie. Who will come out on top?
Head-to-Head History and Previous Encounters
It will be the first time these two have faced each other since 2018, when Real Madrid came out on top 4-3 on aggregate in a semi-final on the way to lifting the trophy that season.
There were goals for Marcelo, Marco Asensio, and two for Karim Benzema for the Spanish club across both legs, while for Bayern Munich, Joshua Kimmich and James Rodriguez were on the scoresheet.
Of those goalscorers, only Joshua Kimmich is likely to start in this fixture, with other players having moved on to pastures new.
Across the last six meetings between the two, Los Blancos are undefeated. You have to go back to 2012 for the last time Bayern Munich came out on top.
Tactical Analysis and Key Matchups
Real Madrid arguably has the most dynamic and exciting front six in the world, with a perfect blend of youth and experience.
Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo are among the most exciting attackers around, with the Englishman proving the perfect foil as the false nine for the agility and movement of his Brazilian teammates.
But Real Madrid will be wary of the talents of Harry Kane. The number nine has had his best ever season from a professional standpoint, He has 42 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign for Bayern, beating his previous best haul of 41 for Tottenham in 2017-18.
Stop Kane, and Real Madrid will feel confident in their ability to get to yet another final.
Player Form and Impact
It’s not just Harry Kane who is catching the eye – Jude Bellingham won the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year, seeing off the likes of middle-distance runner Josh Kerr and tennis star Coco Gauff to the award.
He is an incredible talent with strength, speed, and the finishing prowess to render opposing defences terrified throughout the competition.
For Bayern Munich, Kimmich is another player that could hold the key for Thomas Tuchel’s charges. At 29 years old, the German international has been around the block. A driving force in midfield that can find the net with regularity, Real Madrid will need to execute a plan for him.
Predictions and Expectations
It should be a tightly contested match-up, but this is Real Madrid’s competition.
We can see Los Blancos winning both legs and advancing through to yet another final.
