- Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have played out some iconic duels in the Champions League
- Two European giants have surprisingly never met in a final
- 2023/24 will see them meet in the semi-finals
As two continental behemoths, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have a long and fascinating history of high-stakes matches in European competition.
Madrid and Bayern are two of the three most successful clubs in European Cup and Champions League history - the other being AC Milan - and, while strangely they've never duked it out in a showpiece final, there have been some incredibly entertaining fixtures between the two.
With the two sides set to square off in the 2023/24 Champions League semi-finals, here's Bayern and Madrid's full head-to-head history and some memorable encounters.
Memorable games
- Bayern Munich 2-0 Real Madrid - 14 April 1976
- Bayern Munich 4-1 Real Madrid - 7 April 1987
- Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid - 9 May 2001
- Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern (1-3p) - 25 April 2012
- Bayern Munich 0-4 Real Madrid - 29 April 2014
- Real Madrid 4-2 Bayern Munich (AET) - 18 April 2017
- Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich - Complete H2H record
- Top scorers in Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich fixtures
1. Bayern Munich 2-0 Real Madrid - 14 April 1976
Bayern and Madrid met in official competition for the first time ever in 1976 in the European Cup semi-finals.
After the first leg ended 1-1 at the Bernabeu in late March, the two sides battled in Bavaria with a spot in the final and it was Bayern and Germany legend Gerd Muller who sent them on their way to Hampden Park with a brace.
Bayern would seal their third European Cup success by beating Saint-Etienne, with Franz Roth bagging the only goal of the game.
2. Bayern Munich 4-1 Real Madrid - 7 April 1987
Five goals were scored in this 1987 meeting, though it's more famous for Juanito's infamous boot to Lothar Matthaus.
Madrid felt harshly treated by referee Bob Valentine as they went 3-0 down in the first leg of this 1986/87 European Cup semi-final, with Klaus Augenthaler, Matthaus and Roland Wohlfarth.
Juanito's actions, however, were inexcusable.
With Matthaus lying on the floor after crudely taking out full-back Chendo, the former midfielder planted his boot on Matthaus' back and then raked the same one over his face.
Juanito, who died in a car crash in 1992 aged just 37, received a four-year ban having previously been suspended for assaulting a referee and spitting on a former teammate.
3. Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid - 9 May 2001
Madrid were the holders when they visited Bayern for the second leg of their 2000/01 Champions League semi-final, having lost the first game 1-0.
Giovane Elber netted early on and though Luis Figo equalised only ten minutes later, Jens Jeremies was on hand to restore Bayern's two goal lead which they would protect until the full-time whistle.
Bayern would go on to clinch their fourth title by beating Valencia on penalties at San Siro in Milan.
4. Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern (1-3p) - 25 April 2012
Led by Jose Mourinho, Madrid had close to a peak team ready to eliminate Bayern in this semi-final second leg. After a 2-1 first-leg defeat, Madrid replicated the same scoreline in their favour to force extra time. No winner was found and a penalty shootout ensued.
Madrid had Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos step up for their spot-kicks. Four from four, right? Wrong.
Only Alonso netted for Los Blancos as their wait for another Champions League continued while David Alaba, Mario Gomez and Bastian Schweinsteiger converted for the visitors.
5. Bayern Munich 0-4 Real Madrid - 29 April 2014
Pep Guardiola hasn't lost 4-0 too often in his managerial career, but he got all of his tactics wrong in this semi-final second leg.
With a 1-0 lead already in the bank, Carlo Ancelotti's side were well and truly cruising as Sergio Ramos bagged two headers before Ronaldo finished off a rapid counter-attack. The Portuguese forward got his second shortly before full-time to send Madrid into their first Champions League final since 2002.
They would win that game against local rivals Atletico Madrid, ushering in a new period of modern dominance for the club in Europe.
6. Real Madrid 4-2 Bayern Munich (AET) - 18 April 2017
The two starting XIs from this April 2017 encounter are ridiculously stacked with star names. There was Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric among many others for Madrid, while Robert Lewandowski, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery lined up for Bayern.
It was Ronaldo who shone brightest under the Bernabeu lights, though not before some controversial decisions swung the tie in Madrid's favour.
Bayern forced extra time with a 2-1 win inside 90 minutes, but Arturo Vidal's harsh red card proved too great a deficit for the German visitors to overcome.
Having netted in the 76th minute, Ronaldo struck twice more in extra time to bring up 100 UCL goals - one when clearly stood in an offside position - before Marco Asensio rounded off the scoring.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich - Complete H2H record
- Games played: 26
- Real Madrid: 12 wins
- Bayern Munich: 11 wins
- Draws: 3
Top scorers in Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich fixtures
Player | Team represented | Goals |
|---|---|---|
Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 9 |
Giovane Elber | Bayern Munich | 4 |
Gerd Muller | Bayern Munich | 3 |
Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | 3 |
Raul | Real Madrid | 3 |
