© Getty Images
The impressive 2-1 victory in the first leg last week ended a long barren spell for Bayern. The Munich men hadn’t beaten Madrid in nine consecutive meetings, and the last success at the Bernabéu went back 25 years. On that occasion, in the 2000/01 semi-finals, FCB also managed for the first and only time to win both legs of a knockout tie against the Spanish giants. Vincent Kompany’s side will be hoping to repeat that feat in the return match on Wednesday night and seal their place in the semis. Read on to find out which facts and figures favour that outcome.
Bayern have only once squandered such a lead
Bayern have only once squandered such a lead
In the last round, Bayern followed up a 6-1 success in Bergamo with a 4-1 win at the Allianz Arena. | © Imago
In the last round, Bayern followed up a 6-1 success in Bergamo with a 4-1 win at the Allianz Arena. | © Imago
A second leg at home after a win in the away leg – the situation couldn’t be much better for FC Bayern. In Europe’s premier club competition, the Bavarians have got over the line with such a lead in 21 out of 22 cases. If you take all European competitions, it’s 29 out of 30. The only time the German record champions have been eliminated after an away win in the first leg was in the 2010/11 Champions League round of 16 against Inter, when the old away goals rule meant a 3-2 defeat in the second leg at the Allianz Arena was not enough following the 1-0 victory in Milan.
Trust in home strength
Bayern have been a force with their fans behind them in this season’s competition, winning all five of their home games in the Champions League by an aggregate score of 16-3. In fact, the 2-1 loss against Inter in last year’s quarter-finals was the only defeat in the previous 28 UCL matches at the Allianz Arena (W22, D5). However, it’s not just any team coming to the Bavarian state capital on Wednesday. Since the start of the 2013/14 campaign, Real Madrid have won three of the four meetings in Munich. Only Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach have got the better of Bayern on their own patch that often in this period, but in considerably more matches (17 and 13 respectively). So, Kompany’s men are warned.
Musiala set for milestone
Musiala set for milestone
Jamal Musiala is set for his 50th Champions League appearance. | © FC Bayern
Jamal Musiala is set for his 50th Champions League appearance. | © FC Bayern
If he features in the second leg, Jamal Musiala will clock up 50 appearances in the Champions League – and at the age of just 23 years and 48 days. That would make him the youngest German player to reach this mark. The current record is held by his former teammate Thomas Müller, who was 24 years and 53 days when he made his 50th appearance in the competition.
Kane in the form of his life
Harry Kane scored the second goal in Madrid last week, his 15th goal in his last 14 games in the Champions League. If he gets on the scoresheet again in the return leg, he’ll become only the second English player after Steven Gerrard to net in five consecutive matches in the competition. It would also set a new personal best, after he equalled his record of 11 goals from last season at the Bernabéu. The star striker certainly seems to like playing against Los Blancos: Kane has been directly involved in a goal in each of his last four encounters with Real. No player has ever done this in five successive games against the Madrid side in the Champions League.
Check out Madrid’s latest form:
Topics of this article