Charles Jackson
The penultimate match of the 2023-24 Champions League is on a knife’s edge after events in Germany last week, with Real Madrid hosting Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu following a 2-2 draw in the first leg. A high-octane game leaves the Spanish giants as favorites in Madrid, where they have won six and drawn one of their last seven meetings with Bayern. The winners will face Dortmund in the final on June 1st.
While Carlo Ancelotti’s team warmed up for this second leg by celebrating their 35th Spanish title, won when Barcelona lost in Girona, preparations were more difficult for Bayern Munich, beaten 3-1 by Stuttgart at the weekend. If they follow up their seventh defeat in 2024 with an eighth, it will be the first trophyless season since 2012 for the Bavarians. Here’s how you can watch the game and what you need to know:
Viewing information
- Date: Wednesday, May 8 | Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Santiago Bernabéu – Madrid
- TELEVISION: CBS | Live broadcast: Paramount+
- Chances: Real Madrid -110; Draw +275; Bayern Munich +275
What happened in the first leg
Bayern Munich started much better at the Allianz Arena but, in a manner that would be familiar to their fans this season, a clumsy defensive error allowed Vinicius Junior to score with Real Madrid’s first touch in the opposition box. Thomas Tuchel’s side increased the pressure as the game progressed and looked dominant at the start of the second half. Leroy Sane’s rocket equalized before Jamal Musiala was fouled by Lucas Vazquez, with Harry Kane putting the hosts ahead from the penalty spot.
However, Real Madrid would not be defeated and Min-jae Kim capped off a disastrous night by bringing down Rodrygo. Vinicius leveled the visitors from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute and neither team seemed to want to change the equation that night from then on.
How did they get here
Real Madrid: With the exception of a brief flurry of pressure from RB Leipzig in the first leg, Real Madrid were not particularly discouraged at the start of the competition, as they convincingly topped their group with six wins out of six. After negotiating the German opposition in the round of 16, Manchester City, last year’s winners, were left lurking in the quarter-finals. The 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu may have been the draw of the tie, with Federico Valverde’s 79th-minute goal giving Real Madrid a crucial position at the Etihad Stadium. Rodrygo scored early for the visitors, but wave after wave of City pressure only resulted in Kevin De Bruyne equalizing. Luka Modric may have missed his penalty, but Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic also missed theirs, Real Madrid are once again among the final four.
Bayern Munchen: Tuchel’s men rarely seemed to fall short of first place in Group A, even if a fairly ordinary pitch of Galatasaray, Copenhagen and Manchester United gave them plenty of difficulties. That kind of heavy atmosphere carried through to the round of 16 tie, where Lazio won the first leg – prompting Bayern to announce that Tuchel would leave at the end of the season – before Thomas Muller and Kane led an impressive comeback in the Allianz Arena. Perhaps Bayern’s best performances of the campaign so far came against Arsenal. Coming back from an early deficit, the visitors drew 2-2 in London before Joshua Kimmich’s solitary goal capped an impressive home victory for the six-time champions.
Team News
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois’s return to the team that defeated Cádiz 3-0 on Saturday was welcome, although the Belgian may still have work to do to earn a starting place from Andriy Lunin, who he has so ably replaced this season. The number 1’s return means David Alaba, out for the season and Euro 2024 due to a knee injury, is the only senior absentee for Ancelotti, who may opt to play Aurelien Tchouameni in defense after Nacho was withdrawn after just 65 minutes about the game. first leg. Dani Carvajal is also available after suspension for the trip to Munich.
Possible Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinícius
Bayern Munchen: Does Tuchel trust Kim, whom he criticized for his “greedy” defending in the first leg? Would he have to do this anyway? With Matthijs De Ligt having returned to training just two days ago, the South Korean international could be thrust back into the team along with Eric Dier, the Tottenham loanee who surprised so many by establishing himself as a key player. Striker Raphael Guerreiro’s impressive display off the bench opens up the possibility of him playing a role that could allow Jamal Musiala to play more centrally. Likewise, Serge Gnabry could be the starter.
Possible Bayern XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Dier, De Ligt, Davies; Laimer, Goretzka; Sané, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane
Prediction
There’s something about these teams that makes you think they can deliver an even bigger barn burner than the first leg. Get ready for something very fun indeed. CHOICE: Real Madrid 3, Bayern Munich 3 (Bayern win on penalties)
TV semi-final schedule
All times US/East
