At the heart of a season marked by the dismissal of coach Xabi Alonso and a Liga title promised to Barcelona, Real Madrid only has the Champions League, its prestigious competition won 15 times, to save face. After losing in the first leg (2-1), the Spanish club will have to raise its level of play this Wednesday (9 pm) on Bayern’s pitch to reach the semi-finals.
In case of elimination, Real risks finishing without a national title or a Champions League victory for the second consecutive season, a situation that has not happened since 2005/06. Back then, President Florentino Perez resigned, admitting the failure of his Galacticos project. Despite a shaky start in the group stage, the Merengue rediscovered their form against Manchester City in the round of 16 but now find themselves on the brink.
“The Bayern steamroller mode” “If there is a team capable of winning in Munich, it is Real Madrid. Those who don’t believe it can stay here,” immediately declared coach Alvaro Arbeloa after the defeat. “Here, no one gives up,” President Florentino Perez emphasized.
The result and nature of the first leg match provided some hope. Real proved they remain a constant threat with offensive players Vinicius Junior and Mbappe.
While Bayern left Bernabeu victorious for the first time since May 2001, much credit goes to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. “We know there is only one goal and it can go either way. But we have a slight advantage,” the Munich captain stated in a press conference on Tuesday.
“The 30th match between the two giants in the Champions League” On the other hand, Bayern has only been eliminated once (out of 31) after winning away in the first leg (against Inter in the 2011 Champions League round of 16, losing 3-2 after a 1-0 win in Milan). Unlike Real, the Bavarian club is still competing on three fronts this season, with a 35th national title within reach and a sense of dominance nationally and continentally (11 wins and one loss to Arsenal in the Champions League).
“We must not make the mistake of allowing too much euphoria to set in right now. I sense a bit too much excitement at the moment, and to be honest, I don’t like it,” warned former Bayern player and executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, currently a supervisory board member. “Controlled euphoria is exactly what we have. We must carry this euphoria with us because what we have achieved cannot be taken away. And yet, we know a great adversary awaits us on Wednesday,” added sporting director Max Eberl.
Bayern has suffered four consecutive eliminations in the Champions League against Real (2014, 2017, 2018, and 2024). Their last qualification in this European football classic dates back to 2012, in the 30th encounter between the two giants in the Champions League.
