You could say FC Bayern versus Real Madrid is the ultimate match in European competition. The two clubs have met 26 times on the continental stage, either in the Champions League or the European Cup, as it was known before 1992. No other fixture has been played more often in the competition. fcbayern.com looks back at some of the most legendary clashes.
Semi-finals 1986/87: Bayern's lightning start and Juanito's kick
After Bayern had already prevailed in the 1975/76 semi-final in the only meeting with Los Blancos to date, the fledgling fixture reached its low point in the 1986/87 penultimate round. In the first leg at Munich's sold-out Olympiastadion, FCB got off to a flying start and were 3-0 up after just 37 minutes thanks to goals from Klaus Augenthaler, Lothar Matthäus and Roland Wohlfarth. Too much for the proud Spaniards, whose frustration was unleashed in an unpleasant manner shortly afterwards. A rough tackle by Matthäus led to a scuffle, as a result of which Germany's most-capped player was first knocked to the ground and then kicked in the face by Real's Juanito.
The Spaniard was sent off and later received a five-year ban from European competition. To this day, Juanito's foul is regarded as one of the worst in European history – but reconciliation was not long in coming: "He asked me almost directly for forgiveness and I forgave him. He showed me that he was a man of honour and a good person," Matthäus revealed a few years later in an interview with Spanish media. The fouled player got off lightly and in the second half, after Emilio Butragueño had temporarily reduced the deficit, was able to make the final score 4-1 (53'). Instead of rallying, the Madrilenians were further decimated after Mino was sent off and suffered their joint heaviest defeat against FCB (4-1 in March 2000). Despite going a man down in the second leg - this time Augenthaler was sent off with a straight red card - Munich did not let their good starting position slip away and progressed to the final despite a 1-0 defeat.
Semi-finals 2000/01: Elber's kiss on the knee and Jeremies‘ sacrifice
In May 2001, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld pulled a rabbit out of his hat ahead of the second meeting in the top four to avoid being eliminated from the Champions League semi-finals, as he had been the previous year. Just 12 days after Giovane Élber had undergone knee surgery, the Brazilian was Bayern's only striker at the Bernabéu - and was the decisive man on the pitch. He scored the golden goal in the 55th minute to give Munich a 1-0 first-leg win. It was a "miracle", the attacker said later about his lightning recovery and had to admit that he had not known "exactly where the goal was" when he shot from a good 20 metres. So be it! Élber wrongfooted the then 20-year-old Real keeper Iker Casillas and gave himself a kiss on the knee as a reward.
With the away win in the bag, the door to the final in Milan was wide open for Bayern, who made sure in the second leg eight days later. Élber again scored the opener (8') before Luís Figo surprisingly equalised soon after. But Jens Jeremies, who had also undergone knee surgery shortly before the match, secured the 2-1 victory and a place in the final. However, Jeremies had to pay bitterly for what was perhaps the most important goal of his career. He watched the final victory against Valencia from the bench, his knee repeatedly causing him pain until the end of his career in 2006. "I was prepared to risk a lot for my dream of winning the Champions League. That's why I have no regrets," the centre-back later said in retrospect.
Round of 16 2006/07: Rapid Makaay goal starts Bayern comeback
In February 2007, Bayern battled to a 3-2 defeat at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in the first leg of the Champions League last 16. A good starting position due to the away goals rule still in force at the time - but in order to progress to the next round, Munich needed at least one goal in the home game two weeks later. However, nobody really expected how quickly they would achieve this. "The ball went to Gago, he played it on to Roberto Carlos and it bounced off his foot," Roy Makaay later summarised the seconds after kick-off from his point of view. "Hasan Salihamidžić got hold of the ball and before we even realised it, it was in the net."
The Dutchman scored the opener for Bayern after a mere 10.12 seconds – still the fastest goal in UCL history. More importantly, though, the record strike "was particularly nice because it led to progression", explained Makaay afterwards. Because Lúcio added another goal on 67 minutes, Ruud van Nistelrooy's late penalty for Real made no difference and FCB were through to the quarter-finals.
Semi-finals 2011/12: Last step on way to 'Finale dahoam'
FCB and Real delivered arguably their most thrilling encounter in the 2011/12 semi-finals. The whole of Munich was dreaming of the ‘Finale dahoam’ ['final at home'] and Bayern did everything they could to fulfil this wish for themselves and their fans. In the first leg, Franck Ribéry (17) gave the Reds the lead in front of 66,000 enthusiastic spectators, while Mesut Özil (53) equalised for Madrid shortly after the break in a high-quality match. Just when it looked like the game would end in a draw, Mario Gómez (90') got the fans out of their seats with a last-minute winner. After the final whistle, a delighted Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "Real showed that they are a great team. In the end, luck was on our side and we won 2-1. We can be proud of the win." Little did the then CEO realise that this would only be the overture to an even greater drama.
Just eight days later, Bayern were guests in Madrid and had to experience the power that a sold-out Bernabéu can develop. After an early brace from Cristiano Ronaldo, Real were closer to progressing before Arjen Robben (27') levelled the score with a penalty. The 90-plus minutes continued to see the teams trading blows but there were no more goals, meaning the game had to be decided in a penalty shootout. Manuel Neuer saved Los Blancos' first two attempts, while David Alaba and Gómez converted. Suddenly, however, Philipp Lahm and Toni Kroos also lost their nerve for FCB and Real were able to reduce the deficit. But after Sergio Ramos fired over from 12 yards, the final was within reach. "We're all dead, but we're over the moon," said Bastian Schweinsteiger, who converted the decisive penalty to secure a place in the final. The Munich men experienced "a magical night" in the Spanish capital, as the then coach Jupp Heynckes summarised it. Today's honorary president Uli Hoeneß was also overjoyed: "Today was the game of games. Real against Bayern is of course a highlight that you only experience a few times in your life."
Semi-finals 2017/18: Real prevail in most recent clash
However, in the 12 years since then, the Madrilenians have had the better of each of the last three meetings - including the last encounter in the 2017/18 semi-finals, which started extremely unluckily for FCB. After taking a deserved lead through Joshua Kimmich (28'), Real somewhat surprisingly equalised through Marcelo's powerful strike on the stroke of half-time, before Bayern were punished for Rafinha losing the ball in midfield and Los Blancos sealed a 2-1 first-leg success with Marco Asensio's counter-attacking goal (57'). Knowing full well that this was due more to their own mistakes than Real's superiority, the Munich side were combative ahead of the second leg: "There are two matches in a semi-final and only the final score counts," said then FCB coach Heynckes before the team set off for Madrid.
The Bavarians took that attitude to the Bernabéu six days later and proved any doubters that giving up was not an option for them. "We've seen the best Champions League game that I've experienced with Bayern Munich in the last five years," admited Rummenigge after the second leg. "We had the best team on the ropes," added the then CEO after the 2-2 draw in Madrid, in which Bayern only needed one more goal to progress after goals from Kimmich and James on the one side and a brace from Karim Benzema on the other. The then defending champions went on to win the trophy for the third time in a row. Record winners Real now have 14 Champions League trophies in their club display case - but if Bayern have their way, Los Merengues will have to wait at least another year for number 15.
The facts on the meeting between Bayern and Real:
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