Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich: UEFA Champions League probable teams, match stats & LIVE blog!

Bundesliga

2024-05-08T05:25:00Z

Leroy Sané (l.) is expected to return to the Bayern Munich starting line-up against Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich are out to book their place in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final when they travel to Real Madrid on Wednesday, with the tie finely poised at 2-2 (kick-off: 9pm CEST).

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After dominating for the majority of the 90 minutes at the Allianz Arena, Bayern will be disappointed not to be heading to the Spanish capital with the lead. While their preparations for this encounter were not the best as they suffered a 3-1 defeat against third-placed VfB Stuttgart, there is little riding on their remaining Bundesliga fixtures, with Bayer Leverkusen having already clinched the Meisterschale and Champions League football returning to Munich – the venue for the 2024/25 final – next term. As such, Thomas Tuchel made several changes to his starting line-up, as the likes of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Mathys Tel were rotated in. Harry Kane featured from the start, though, netting his 36th league goal of the campaign. Central defender Matthijs De Ligt wasn’t fit for the weekend but should be ready to start in Madrid, but Raphaël Guerreiro, Kingsley Coman, Sacha Boey and Bouna Sarr are confirmed absentees. If Bayern win, they will punch a ticket back to Wembley, where they won the 2013 final against Borussia Dortmund, who have already qualified for this year’s showpiece.

Real struggled to deal with Bayern for long stretches in Bavaria but, as they often do in Europe, found a way to get a result. The 14-time winners had no such trouble in seeing off relegation-threatened Cádiz on Saturday – a result that, coupled with Barcelona’s loss to Girona, secured them the LaLiga title. Much like Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti ranked the changes, with Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, former Bayern midfielder Toni Kroos and ex-Dortmund man Jude Bellingham among those to be rested. The latter came off the bench to net his side’s second goal, with Brahim Díaz and former Hannover forward Joselu also finding the back of the net. For this clash, Ancelotti may well have a full squad to choose from, with Aurélien Tchouaméni the only doubt as he continues to recover from a knock. Thibaut Courtois made his comeback from a knee injury at the weekend, buy the Italian coach confirmed that Andriy Lunin will be back in goal on Wednesday. Alongside Kroos, ex-Stuttgart and current Germany international Antonio Rüdiger will welcome the traveling contingent to their home stadium. David Alaba, who spent 11 years at Bayern, tore his ACL in December and isn’t expected to return until next season.

Watch: Bayern’s best Bundesliga goals of 2023/24

Match Stats

With eight goals, Kane is the leading goalscorer in the Champions League this season alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé.
Kane is also just one goal behind Wayne Rooney (30), England’s all-time leading goalscorer in this competition.
Should he feature and make his 151st Champions League appearance, Thomas Müller will draw level with fifth-placed Xavi in the all-time list and joint-most for a single club.
This is the eighth semi-final meeting between the two teams – Bayern have prevailed on four occasions to Real’s three.
Bayern have lost just one of their previous 12 matches against Spanish opposition.
Tuchel’s men have found the back of the net in all but one of their last 15 matches in all competitions.

Probable teams

Bavaria: Neuer (c) – Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Mazraoui – Laimer, Goretzka – Sané, Müller, Musiala – Kane
Out: Boey (thigh), Buchmann (thigh), Coman (groin), Sarr (knee), Guerreiro (ligament tear)
Doubtful: Upamecano (fitness)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel

Real: Lunin – Carvajal, Rüdiger, Nacho (c), Mendy – Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos – Bellingham – Rodrygo, Vinícius
Out: Alaba (knee)
Doubtful: Tchouaméni (knock)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

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Kane leads the way

The Englishman is the Champions League’s leading goalscorer this term alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé with eight strikes. He will be looking to add to that tally at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Real Madrid champions

The Spanish outfit clinched their 36th LaLiga title at the weekend after Barcelona lost 4-2 to Girona. They celebrated their latest triumph with a 3-0 victory over Cádiz.

Real Madrid team news

Ancelotti, meanwhile, has almost everyone to choose from. Aurélien Tchouaméni is the only potential absentee, as he recovers from a knock. Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, as well as ex-Bayern stars, Toni Kroos and David Alaba, will be familiar faces. Antonio Rüdiger, who started out at Stuttgart, should also be part of the matchday squad.

Bayern team news

Thomas Tuchel has the majority of his big hitters available. Long-term absentees Sacha Boey, Kingsley Coman and Bouna Sarr are all unavailable, while Raphaël Guerreiro’s ankle issue also keeps him out of the traveling squad. Otherwise, though, there are a plethora of options to choose from – good news for the boss, of course.

Set all to play for

The two sides played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg at the Allianz Arena, leaving the tie evenly poised. Real took the lead through Vinícius Júnior, before goals from Leroy Sané and Harry Kane turned the match on its head. However, despite dominating for much of the encounter, Bayern had to make do with a level scoreline as Vinícius scored from the spot late on.

Watch: Stuttgart 3-1 Bayern – highlights

It wasn’t the best preparation for Bayern this past weekend as they succumbed to Stuttgart.

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After a 2-2 draw in Munich, Bayern need to win in Madrid if they’re to reach the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final. They can do it in 90, after extra-time or penalties – but only a win will do.

First leg report

Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid
Goals: 0-1 Vinícius Júnior 24′ (assist: Kroos)1-1 Sané 53′ (assist: Laimer), 2-1 Kane (pen. 57′), 2-2 Vinícius Júnior (pen. 83′)

Bayern were all over Real like a rash in the opening 15 to 20 minutes, with Leroy Sané setting the tone with a shot across goal that Andriy Lunin did really well to block with his feet. Sané was sent through on goal soon after, but a rusty first touch took him wide and his eventual shot sailed over the crossbar. Harry Kane tried to catch out Lunin with an audacious effort from almost halfway, while the returning Jamal Musiala fired off target with a couple of warning shots. It appeared to be only a matter of time before Bayern would get their noses in front, but Real hadn’t read the script. Former Bayern man Toni Kroos sprayed a long pass up towards the edge of the box for Vinícius Júnior, who got away from Minjae Kim and confidently slotted past the advancing Manuel Neuer. Kane sent a fierce curling strike narrowly wide as Bayern went in at the break undeservedly behind in the tie.

Thomas Tuchel reacted by introducing Raphaël Guerreiro for Leon Goretzka, and moving Sané out to the right-hand side. As Bayern adjusted to the tactical tweak, Neuer was forced into a diving save to stop Kroos finding the top corner following a lightning Real counter. The record champions responded in the best possible fashion, with Sané powering in off the right and driving a fine finish past Lunin at his near post to level. And they were ahead four minutes later as Kane sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot after Lucas Vázquez had upended Musiala. After a deflection took Kane’s next attempt from open play wide, Eric Dier missed the chance to make it an English double when he directed a free header straight at Lunin. Neuer thwarted Vinícius Júnior from close range, but could not prevent the Brazilian from dusting himself off from Kim’s rash challenge and leveling the tie from the spot with seven minutes of normal time remaining. Bayern go to Madrid for the return leg on 8 May, with a place in the final on the line.

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