The UEFA Champions League semi-final between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid begins on Tuesday with a delicious first leg at Germany's Allianz Arena. Bayern are trying to overcome a difficult season, while Real Madrid are trying to reaffirm their status as the kings of European football.
Bayern and Madrid eliminated English Premier League favorites Arsenal and Manchester City in the quarter-finals. Both are giants of the sport. The two sides have faced each other eight times in the Champions League semi-finals. They have won this competition and its predecessor, the European Cup, 20 times (Real Madrid 14 times, Bayern 6 times).
However, their 2023-24 season was very different. Real Madrid are on the move to win the La Liga title. Meanwhile, Bayern relinquished the German Bundesliga title for the first time in over 10 years. Manager Thomas Tuchel has been under constant criticism. Barring a spot in the Champions League final, this year will be the club's biggest failure in a long time.
For all these reasons, Bayern were the underdogs in the quarter-finals. However, a decisive second-half header from Joshua Kimmich gave them a 1-0 win in the second leg against Arsenal, giving them a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Real Madrid will be an even tougher test. The last two semi-final meetings between the two clubs have been won by Real Madrid.
Tuesday's first leg kicks off at 3pm ET. The second match will be next Wednesday, May 8th.
The other semi-final, Paris Saint-Germain vs. Borussia Dortmund, will be played on Wednesday and next Tuesday.
You can follow Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid on Yahoo Sports below.
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Reminder: Amidst all the struggles against Bayern Munich this season, their underlying numbers are wonderful. elite.
This is still a dominant team and we saw more evidence of that in the first 12 minutes.
(Screenshot below via fbref.com. Expected goal difference is a measure of the quantity and quality of chances a team creates and allows.)
Expected goal difference for this season's German Bundesliga. (fbref.com) -
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Fans are filling the Allianz Arena. Kickoff is at 3pm ET!
MUNICH, GERMANY – APRIL 30: FC fans heading to the stadium before the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena on April 30, 2024 in Munich, Germany. Bayern Munich fan. (Photo by Silas Schueller/DeFodi Images, Getty Images) -
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