FC Bayern to Face Real Madrid in Champions League Quarter-Final First Leg
Munich, Bavaria, Germany, April 7 – FC Bayern München is set to travel to Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. The highly anticipated match will take place at the iconic Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on April 7, rekindling one of football’s most storied rivalries. This encounter promises to add another chapter to the long history of dramatic clashes between these two European giants.
Historical Clashes: A Look Back at Legendary Encounters
The upcoming match is a reminder of the numerous epic battles FC Bayern and Real Madrid have fought on the European stage. Here’s a look at some of the most memorable moments:
March 31, 1976: Real Madrid – FC Bayern, 1:1 | Semi-Final
In the first leg of the European Cup semi-final, Gerd Müller scored a crucial equalizer for Bayern, leveling the score at 1:1 after a pass from ‘Bulle’ Roth. This goal, though not captured on film, was pivotal. Martínez of Madrid missed a chance in the 43rd minute, and while the camera showed his frustration, Bayern counter-attacked, and Müller scored. This equalizer settled the then-dominant Real Madrid, who had been leading. Bayern, having won the European Cup twice consecutively, remained composed. After the final whistle, a Madrid fan reportedly punched Müller, who retaliated with a brace in the return leg, securing a 2:0 victory and ultimately leading Bayern to their third consecutive European Cup title.
April 22, 1987: Real Madrid – FC Bayern, 1:0 | Semi-Final
Despite a 4:1 victory in the first leg at Olympiastadion, Bayern faced an onslaught from Real Madrid in the return leg. The first leg was marred by Juanito’s brutal foul on Lothar Matthäus, resulting in a red card. In Madrid, Klaus Augenthaler scored an own goal and was sent off in the 30th minute, leaving Bayern with ten men. Real Madrid, supported by 100,000 fans, pressed hard for two more goals. However, goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff delivered a career-defining performance, making crucial saves that kept Bayern in the tie. Bayern advanced to the final against Porto, which they unfortunately lost. This match earned Bayern the nickname ‘Bestia Negra’ (Black Beast) in the Spanish press.
May 1, 2001: Real Madrid – FC Bayern, 0:1 | Semi-Final
FC Bayern, driven by their resilience after the devastating 1999 Champions League final loss, displayed remarkable conviction in spring 2001. They had perfected their disciplined and controlled playing style. Despite Real Madrid’s superior individual talents and dominance in possession, they couldn’t breach Bayern’s defense, anchored by an impenetrable Oliver Kahn. The lone striker, Giovane Élber, seized his moment in the 55th minute, striking from 25 meters after a Real Madrid clearance was sent back into their half. Élber later admitted he didn’t even know exactly where the goal was. This blind confidence led Bayern to a 2:1 victory in the return leg and ultimately to lifting the Champions League trophy against Valencia.
April 25, 2012: Real Madrid – FC Bayern, 3:4 on penalties | Semi-Final
FC Bayern famously defeated José Mourinho’s Real Madrid in one of the most thrilling European Cup matches ever. Bayern had won the first leg 2:1, but found themselves two goals down after just 15 minutes in the return leg. Arjen Robben’s penalty brought Bayern back into the game, sending it to extra time and then a penalty shootout. Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, and Sergio Ramos all missed for Real. Despite nerves, Bastian Schweinsteiger, returning from injury, stepped up as the final penalty taker and calmly converted, sending Bayern to the ‘Finale dahoam’ (home final). Mourinho, a picture of defeat, entered the Bayern dressing room to congratulate each player individually.
May 1, 2018: Real Madrid – FC Bayern, 2:2 | Semi-Final
In 2018, Bayern faced a familiar foe, a Spanish team, for the fifth consecutive year in the Champions League knockout stages. Having been eliminated by Spanish opposition in the previous four years, Bayern faced an uphill battle after a 1:2 home defeat in the first leg. Despite missing key players like Manuel Neuer, Jérôme Boateng, Arturo Vidal, Arjen Robben, and Kingsley Coman, Bayern started strong in the Bernabéu, with Joshua Kimmich scoring an early goal. They dominated the game, but Karim Benzema scored two unexpected goals. Bayern equalized to 2:2, but the crucial third goal eluded them. Despite the elimination, Bayern left the stadium with heads held high, eventually overcoming the ‘Spanish curse’ in 2020 by defeating FC Barcelona in the quarter-finals and winning the title.
May 8, 2024: Real Madrid – FC Bayern, 2:1 | Semi-Final
After a 2:2 draw in the first leg at the Allianz Arena, Bayern delivered a spirited performance in the decisive semi-final second leg at the Bernabéu. Alphonso Davies put Bayern ahead in the 68th minute, sparking hopes of a repeat of the 2013 all-German final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. However, Real struck late. Joselu equalized in the 88th minute and scored the winning goal for Madrid three minutes later. A late goal by Matthijs de Ligt was disallowed due to an earlier offside whistle, leading to Bayern’s narrow and heartbreaking elimination despite a valiant effort.
Fans can relive these unforgettable matches against Real Madrid in full length with an FC Bayern TV PLUS subscription.
Source: https://fcbayern.com/de/news/2026/04/bayern-zu-gast-bei-real-madrid-el-clasico-de-campeones
