The penultimate match of the 2023/24 Champions League is on edge following the events in Germany last week, when Real Madrid welcomed Bayern Munich to the Santiago Bernabeu after a 2-2 draw in the first leg. After an exciting match, the Spanish giants remain favorites in Madrid, having won six and drawn one of their last seven meetings with Bayern. The winners will face Dortmund in the final on June 1.
While Carlo Ancelotti’s side warmed up for this second leg by celebrating the Spanish title number 35, which was secured for them when Barcelona lost in Girona, preparations were more difficult for Bayern Munich, who were beaten 3-1 by Stuttgart. If they follow their seventh defeat of 2024 with an eighth, it will be the Bavarians’ first trophy-less season since 2012. Here’s how to watch the match and what you need to know:
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- Date: Wednesday May 8 | Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Place: Santiago Bernabeu-Madrid
- TV: CBS | Live stream: Biggest+
- Chances: Real Madrid-110; Sign +275; Bayern Munich +275
What happened in the first stage
Bayern Munich started much better at the Allianz Arena, but in a move that would be somberly familiar to supporters this season, a clumsy error at the back allowed Vinicius Junior to score on Madrid’s first goal inside the opponent’s penalty area. Thomas Tuchel’s side built up pressure as the match progressed and looked the dominant side early in the second half. Leroy Sane’s rocket drew them level before Jamal Musiala fouled Lucas Vazquez, allowing Harry Kane to put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot.
However, Madrid were not to be defeated and Min-jae Kim capped a disastrous evening by bringing down Rodrygo. Vinicius leveled the visitors from the spot in the 83rd minute and neither side looked likely to change the equation on the evening from then on.
How they got here
Real Madrid: Apart from a brief late pressure from RB Leipzig in the first leg, Madrid were not exactly fazed early in the competition as they convincingly topped their group with six wins from six. After negotiating with German opposition in last year’s round of 16, Manchester City’s conquerors lurked in the quarters. Their 3-3 draw at the Bernabéu could have been the tie of the round, while Federico Valverde’s 79th-minute goal gave Madrid a crucial foothold at the Etihad Stadium. Rodrygo scored early for the visitors, but wave after wave of City pressure only resulted in Kevin De Bruyne’s equalizer. Luka Modric might have missed his penalty, but Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic missed theirs too, helping Madrid reach the last four again.
Bayern Munich: It rarely looked like Tuchel’s men would fail to take top spot in Group A, even though a fairly ordinary field of Galatasaray, Copenhagen and Manchester United caused them plenty of problems. That kind of tough weather continued until a draw in the round of 16, with Lazio winning the first leg – prompting Bayern to announce Tuchel would leave at the end of the season – before Thomas Muller and Kane led an impressive battle in the second round. Allianz Arena. Perhaps Bayern’s best performances of the season so far came against Arsenal. The visitors fought back from an early deficit to draw 2-2 in London before Joshua Kimmich’s only goal capped an impressive home win for the six-time champions.
Team news
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois’ return to the side that defeated him 3-0 on Saturday was welcome, although the Belgian may still have work to do to win the starting spot from Andriy Lunin, who has substituted so ably this season. The return of their No.1 means David Alaba, out for the season and Euro 2024 with a knee injury, is the only senior absentee for Ancelotti, who could opt to drop Aurelien Tchouameni into defense after Nacho was withdrawn following just 65 minutes into the match. first leg. Dani Carvajal is also available after his suspension for the trip to Munich.
Possible Madrid XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius
Bayern Munich: Does Tuchel trust Kim, who he criticized for his ‘greedy’ defense in the first leg? Shouldn’t he? With Matthijs De Ligt having only returned to training two days ago, the South Korea international could be reinserted into the squad along with Eric Dier, the Tottenham loanee who has amazed so many by establishing himself as a key player. Moving on, Raphael Guerreiro’s impressive performance off the bench opens up the prospect of him potentially appearing in a capacity that could see Jamal Musiala play a more central role. It could also be that Serge Gnabry gets the start instead.
Possible Bayern XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Dier, De Ligt, Davies; Laimer, Goretzka; Healthy, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane
Prediction
There’s something about these teams that makes you think they might deliver an even bigger barn burner than the first stage. Brace yourself for something really fun. CHOOSE: Real Madrid 3, Bayern Munich 3 (Bayern wins on penalties)
TV schedule semi-finals
Always US/East
