‘Anything’s possible’ with Bayern ready for semi-final second leg against Real Madrid

FC Bayern take on Real Madrid in Spain in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday with a place in the Wembley final on the line (kick-off at 9pm CEST, coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our live text commentary and free web radio). With the tie finely poised at 2-2 after the first leg eight days ago, there must be a winner in Madrid, even if it takes a penalty shootout. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.

Recap all the build-up to the second leg from Tuesday:

State of play

Bayern have long put their 3-1 defeat to VfB Stuttgart at the weekend behind them after what Thomas Tuchel called a “sandwich game” between the two Real legs. The team’s full focus has been solely on the big goal of reaching the Champions League final in London. “It’s a gift and an obligation in one. We’re playing in the semi-final to reach the final. We’re playing to get to Wembley and nothing else,” said the 50-year-old at his press conference on Tuesday evening. Despite a less than pleasing domestic campaign, Bayern have proven this season that they can always switch it on for the Champions League, losing just one out of 11 games in Europe this term (with 10 men away at Lazio).

“I think it’ll be a very complex game, with different phases. In the phases where you have the momentum, you need luck to be on your side, precision and conviction. Then anything’s possible,” Tuchel added. That’s how Bayern want to enjoy their next magical night at the Bernabeu, like in May 2001 with their most recent win at the home of Real, or in April 2012 when they reached the Finale dahoam on penalties. “You need to turn the external factors into something positive. We’ll try to do that. If we perform, we’re definitely a candidate for the final,” said captain Manuel Neuer. Tuchel then underlined the facts: “The state of play is clear. The winner goes to Wembley, and we want to be the winner.”

We’ve taken a look back at some huge semi-final clashes between Bayern and Real Madrid at the Bernabeu:

Opponent: Real Madrid

A 3-0 win against Cadiz at the weekend helped Real secure the LaLiga title, but they aren’t done yet in their quest for trophies. It was a second piece of domestic silverware for Los Blancos in 2023/24 after also lifting Spain’s Supercopa. They came up short in the Copa del Rey, however, with a 4-2 extra-time defeat to Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 at the start of the year. That remains only of only two losses for Carlo Ancelotti’s men in 49 competitive fixtures this season. The other also came against Atletico in the league meeting in September. At home, Real haven’t been beaten in any competition for over a year.

The Champions League record holders look in good shape in their quest for a 15th title after their most recent success in 2022, but Bayern will very much still have their say. “We saw in the first leg that we can compete and will get out chances if we play to our plan,” stated sporting director Christoph Freund before the flight to Madrid. “We’ll face a special atmosphere inside the Bernabeu, but we’re well prepared and feeling positive.”

Real Madrid were confirmed as champions in Spain at the weekend:

Team news

Bayern remain without Kingsley Coman (adductor), Sacha Boey (hamstring), Bouna Sarr (ACL) and Tarek Buchmann (muscular), but now also Raphael Guerreiro after he suffered an ankle injury at the weekend in Stuttgart. Matthijs de Ligt and Jamal Musiala have travelled to Madrid, though.

David Alaba will again miss out against his former club as he continues to recover from a cruciate ligament injury. Dani Carvajal is available again after serving a suspension in the first leg.

Read up on the facts ahead of the game:

What the coaches say

One of the most epic games in this historic fixture came in the 2011/12 Champions League semi-final second leg at the Bernabeu:

We caught up with Thomas Müller to preview Wednesday's second leg: