Greatest Matches between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid

The quarter finals of this seasons Champions League are nearly upon us with two of Europe’s biggest powerhouses, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, battling it out on Wednesday night. This will be the 23rd meeting between the two teams, the third at the quarter final stage of the champions league. For our run in to this to this mercurial fixture between Madrid and Munich, we will take a look at five of the greatest matches between the two sides.

5. Real VS Bayern (2013/14, Semi-finals)

The first tie which makes the list is the most recent meeting between the two, when current Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti was managing Real Madrid. Madrid would go on to win the tie, emphatically defeating Bayern 4-0 at the Allianz Arena in the second leg. The defeat would also turn out to be the then Bayern Munich manager, Pep Guardiola’s biggest defeat in his managerial career. Real Madrid eventually won the Champions league in 2014, beating domestic rivals Atletico Madrid in the final 4-1.

4.Bayern VS Real (2000/01, Champions league semi-finals)

The two teams met each other three times in the period between 1999-2002. It was this period which would go on to define the great rivalry between the two teams, that exists today. Bayern defeated Real 3-1 on aggregate in the semi finals with an incredibly defiant display. However some of the Madrid players were not impressed with the German team’s style of play. Real legend Guti claimed ” They looked like a team playing to avoid relegation”. However the Munich faithful didn’t pay heed to the comments aimed at them, as they would go on to lift the Champions League Trophy that season.

3. Bayern vs Real (2001/02 Champions League Quarter Finals)

The two teams met again the very next year, with Real Madrid coming out on top this time. The Spanish giants were still sour after they were knocked out by the Bavarians in the previous year, and were intent on restoring their superiority. However Bayern defeated them again in the first leg, prompting the then Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld to comment- “I don’t understand all this discussion about Madrid being the best in the world – we always beat them.” But Real proved him wrong in the second leg defeating Bayern 2-0. Real would go on to win the Champions League for the 2nd time in three years, with Current coach Zinedine Zidane, playing an integral part .

2. Bayern vs Real (Champions League-2006/07, Round of 16)

Next on our list is the meeting between the two giants in the 2006/07 Champions League round of 16. The tie finished 4-4 on aggregate with Bayern going through on away goals. A truly enthralling fixture, in which Madrid won the first leg 3-2 at home with a brace from Spanish legend Raul Gonzales. However Bayern turned the tie on it’s head, winning the return leg 2-1. Incidentally, Bayern Munich’s Roy Makaay scored the fastest goal in Champions League history during this tie.

1. Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (Champions League 2011/12, Semi-Finals)

And No.1 on our list just had to be this nail-biting fixture during the semi finals of 2011/12 campaign. The tie finished 3-3 on aggregate with Bayern winning on penalties. Manuel Neuer played an integral part in the shootout, making crucial saves against the like of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Kaka. However Bayern Munich would go on to lose the resulting final to Chelsea in their own home turf, the Allianz arena.