Bayern and Real Madrid face off in Champions league quarterfinal
Two of the world’s top clubs will play each other in the first leg of the UEFA Champions league quarterfinal this Wednesday in Munich.
The field will be filled with numerous stars, playing for the ultimate prize. A berth in the Semi finals of the UEFA champions league.
But this won’t be the first time these two heavyweights meet. The Clubs will meet for a record 23rd time in UEFA play, and the 11th time in the knockout European cup. No other two teams have played each other this many times in the champions league.
History, other facts
The last time Real Madrid and Bayern Munich matched up against one another in the ‘13/14 campaign, Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti was in charge of Madrid. That was the same year Madrid handed Bayern their worst home record loss ever, downing the Germans 4 nil in Munich, 5–0 on aggregate in the Champions league semi finals, and ultimately capturing the European title that year by defeating fellow Spaniards Atletico Madrid in the final.
It’s a battle of two of the most storied sides in European football. There will also be some familiar faces lacing them up against their former clubs.
Madrid Midfielder and German international Toni Kroos will be playing against him former club Bayern, the team whom he began his career with at the Bundesliga level back in 2007. The 27 year old spent seven seasons in a Bayern uniform, until he transferred to Real Madrid in July of 2014.
Spanish star Xabi Alonso will also be playing against his ex team. Alonso spent five seasons in Madrid, then transferring to Bayern in 2014 just after Real captured the UEFA title earlier that year.
This will be Bayern’s 28th European cup quarterfinal. They have also reached the Semi’s in each of the last five years. Bayern are appearing in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the 16th time, more than any other club. FC Barcelona and Madrid are right on their heels, appearing 15 times each at this stage.
Bayern’s 10–2 aggregate victory over Arsenal in the round of 16 is the second largest margin of victory in UEFA champions league history…next to their 12–1 thumping of sporting CP way back in the round of 16 in 2009.
For Real Madrid, they are unbeaten this year in champions league play. This will be their seventh straight year where they have reached the quarterfinals of the European cup. Madrid will look to become the first team in the UEFA champions league era to win the title for the second straight year. The Spanish side is looking to advance to their seventh straight semi finals.
Previous meetings
In the last three matchups between the two franchises, Bayern Munich has came out victorious two out of the three times.
2007, Round of 16, Bayern won on aggregate thanks to away goals. Then in 2012, Bayern won a heart breaker in penalties over Real Madrid in the Semis to send them off to the final where they would be defeated by English side, Chelsea FC.
As mentioned above, Real Madrid has the last laugh after handily defeating Bayern most recently in 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo netted two goals in the Bayern matchup en route to Madrid’s tenth European title.
The first leg will be played Tuesday April 12th in Munich at Allianz Arena, with the second leg going Tuesday April 18th, at the Bernabeu in Madrid.
