Highlights:
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich boast a storied rivalry in the UEFA Champions League, with a combined total of 20 titles.
The intense competition, often dubbed the 'European Clasico,' has seen 26 meetings, characterized by high stakes and fierce battles.
Cristiano Ronaldo stands as the top goal-scorer in their encounters, notably netting a hattrick in the 2016–17 quarterfinals.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are two of the most successful football clubs in the history of the UEFA Champions League having won a combined total of 20 titles. The pair are also dominant forces in their respective domestic leagues which has led to an intense and celebrated rivalry between the two on the European stage. Since their first meet back in 1975/76, the competition was known as the European Cup then, the two have been involved in fierce battles as almost all the clashes were played at the knockout stage. Eight times in the semifinals and three times at the quarters. Hence, the meetings have carried high stakes each time.
The rivalry has been so famous that it has been termed as the ‘European Classico’. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have also faced each other the most in competition history with the winners eventually going on to lift the trophy for most parts or reach the final at least. They have been on toe-to-toe with one another proven by their win record with Los Blancos claiming 12 victories while the Bavarians are just one behind from matching the tally. The pair is also close in terms of goals scored with an equal number of wins at home but Real Madrid has seven clean sheets which is more than triple what their rivals have managed.
Despite the meetings being closely contested, there are some blanks both teams are yet to fill. Bayern Munich have lost all home games in this tie since the 2011/12 season having stayed unbeaten in the first 10 such meetings. Nine of those have resulted in wins. Likewise, Real Madrid has clinched a victory in the last 7 games at Santiago Bernabeu. None of the 26 meetings between the two has ended in a goalless draw showing the demand this rivalry brings.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich head-to-head meetings in the Champions League
Played - 26
Real Madrid won - 12
Drawn - 3
Bayern Munich won - 11
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich goals scored in the Champions League
Real Madrid scored - 41
Bayern Munich scored - 39
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich clean sheets in the Champions League
Real Madrid - 7
Bayern Munich - 2
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich home wins in the Champions League
Real Madrid won - 9
Bayern Munich won - 9
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich away wins in the Champions League
Real Madrid won - 3
Bayern Munich won - 2
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich Top goal-scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (9 goals)
Bayern Munich has been one of the favorite opponents of Cristiano Ronaldo as he has netted nine times in eight meetings against them in the Champions League. That makes him the highest goal-scorer in this fixture. The Portuguese footballing superstar is also the only player to score a hattrick against the German giants which helped Real Madrid win the 2016–17 quarter finals in extra-time. Ronaldo has scored five more goals than the next-best scorer Giovane Élber who has found the net the most against Los Blancos in this competition. Whereas, Iker Casillas leads the appearance chart by guarding the sticks in 14 games.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich biggest win margin: Real Madrid 4-0 Bayern Munich (30 April 2014)
Real Madrid showed their ferocious class as they thrashed Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich at their den in the second leg of the 2013-14 semifinals. Managed by Carlo Ancelloti then, Ronaldo and, interestingly, Sergio Ramos scored a remarkable brace in the 4-0 win to put themselves into the final of the competition in Lisbon which they won against their city rivals Atletico to achieve ‘La Decima’ or the 10th Champions League honour. Naturally, it was also the biggest away win for the Spanish side and one of the memorable results on the road in their tournament history.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich Last Five Meetings
Real Madrid 2-2 Bayern Munich (1 May 2018)
Bayern Munich 1-2 Real Madrid (25 April 2018)
Real Madrid 4-2 Bayern Munich (18 April 2017)
Bayern Munich 1-2 Real Madrid (12 April 2017)
Bayern Munich 0-4 Real Madrid (29 April 2014)
