FC Bayern cross swords with a Spanish side in a European match for the 50th time on Wednesday evening (Live in English from 20.45 CET on Twitter and fcbayern.de free Web Radio). The record is stacked in favour of the German record champions with 23 wins, 14 defeats and 12 draws. fcbayern.de has examined the facts and stats in the build-up to the Atlético clash.
Saviour Schwarzenbeck
FCB have encountered the Spaniards only twice, but the matches were historic. In the 1974 European Cup final Georg “Katsche” Schwarzenbeck salvaged Bayern, earning the Reds a replay with his leveller to make it 1-1 in the 120th minute. The German record champions went on to win the second match 4-0 thanks to two-goal hauls by Gerd Müller (photo) and Uli Hoeneß in Brussels two days later.
Best attack v best defence
Bayern against Atlético is the duel between the best attack and the strongest defence in this season's Champions League campaign. Munich boast the most goals in the competition with 28. Atlético have only scored half as often, but conceded a mere five goals, topping the defensive rankings together with their local rivals Real. Bayern have conceded nine goals so far.
FCB chase Barça and Real
FC Bayern set a new club record by advancing to the Champions League last four: for the first time ever, the Bavarians made the semi-finals of Europe's premier club competition for the fifth time in a row. Munich are CL last four hopefuls for the tenth time. Only FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have achieved this feat more often, eleven times apiece. Atlético made the semi-finals for the second time after their maiden appearance in the 2013/14 season.
Benfica as role model
Bayern's recent record on foreign soil is patchy. FCB have won four of their last 13 Champions League away matches and lost five, with four games ending in a draw. Atlético are strong at the Estadio Vicente Caldéron: they have kept a clean sheet in 11 of their last 12 CL home matches! Only Bayern's quarter-final opponents Benfica scored (and won) in Madrid, a 2-1 victory in the group stage.
Clattenburg in charge
Mark Clattenburg from England will referee the first leg in Madrid. The 41-year-old match official last took charge of a match involving Bayern in the 2014/15 season, a 3-2 victory over FC Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final return. He also oversaw the 7-0 victory over FC Basel in the 2011/12 last sixteen return and the 2-0 victory over Juventus in the quarter-final first leg of the 2012/13 treble season.
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