The ‘European Clasico’, as it is hailed, the face-off between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich has produced the most heavyweight battle that has defined the Champions League more than any other fixture. This has been felt more when the two titans meet at Santiago Bernabéu, where unmatched dramas have been scripted, including serving dramatic turnarounds. It has been more pulsating since the turn of the century as the fixture has become more frequent in the competition. While Real Madrid has triumphed in their euphoric atmosphere to produce the ‘Bernabeu magic’ for the most part, Bayern Munich have given a tough fight despite feeling the heat each time they visited the Spanish capital. Throughout their 28 official meetings, the Bernabéu has created some extraordinary moments that will live longer even in the memories of the neutrals.
Here are some of the unforgettable games played between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League this century:
Real Madrid 2-4 Bayern Munich - Bavarians win six-goal thriller (1999/00 Champions League Second Group Stage)
The start of the 21st century saw an engrossing game between the pair as they faced each other at Santiago Bernabeu in the now-defunct second group stage. The Real Madrid team contained legends like Fernando Morientes and several youngsters who would create the next era at the club, like a young Raul Gonzalez, Iker Casillas and Roberto Carlos, with Nicolas Anelka also part of the unit. Bayern Munich were also shining with stars, including Oliver Kahn, Giovane Élber and Lothar Matthäus, having reached the Champions League final in the previous edition. So, it was in the making of a great game and it disappointed as it produced a six-goal thriller. It took just 20 minutes into the game for the deadlock to be broken, with Mehmet Scholl giving the visitors the lead, which was doubled up by Bayern’s captain Stefan Effenberg just minutes later.
The host got some hope as Morientes snatched back one, straight after conceding the second goal, but it did not last long as Thorsten Fink got the third for the German giants to give them a healthy 3-1 advantage at half-time. Los Blancos showed more quality going forward with Raul this time, reducing the deficit, but their defensive ineptitude let them down again as Paulo Sérgio was able to find the net to give Bayern a 4-2 victory in the Spanish capital. It was an extraordinary show from the Bavarians, who would go on to thrash their opponents 4-1 in the reverse fixture to top their group and beat them again at home in the semifinal second leg. However, Real Madrid had the last laugh despite getting beaten thrice in the same fixture in the same season, as their 2-0 revenge-seeking victory in the first leg at Bernabeu was enough to see them through to the final, which they won.
Real Madrid 3-2 Bayern Munich - Raul's show dampened by Van Bommel (2006/07 Champions League Round of 16 First Leg)
Another thrilling game played out at Santiago Bernabeu, this time in the knockout stage of the competition, in the Round of 16 first leg of the 2006/07 Champions League season. It was their first meeting since the 2003-04 season, also in the last-16 stage, with Real Madrid's attack headed by Raul again and they were looking to increase their winning streak at home in this fixture to five straight games. Managed by Fabio Capello, the side now entering the Galactico era looked to be on their way when their predatory number nine opened the scoring within just 10 minutes, played through magnificently by his equally impressive attacking partner, Ruud Van Nistelrooy. But Bayern, guided by Ottmar Hitzfeld, were equipped with their arsenal and it was the centre-back Lucio who inspired them to get back into the game with a thumping header from Willy Sagnol’s cross.
That did not ruffle feathers, though, as the hosts reclaimed the lead with Raul completing his brace after he touched on Iván Helguera’s flick from David Beckham’s corner into the net. Before Bayern could respond, Beckham and Helguera combined again to the visitor’s nightmare with the former’s free-kick nodded into Van Nistelrooy’s path by the latter, who extended the lead for Los Blancos, beating Kahn from close range. That goal seemed to kill the tie off as Real Madrid had a decent lead on aggregate ahead of the second leg. However, the Bundesliga heavyweights refused to go down easily, as after Gonzalo Higuain hit straight at Kahn and Claudio Pizzaro went close twice at the other end, Mark van Bommel got the goal they were looking for in the 88th minute. Even though Real won the encounter 3-2, that late strike eventually helped Bayern progress by winning the reverse leg at home through away goals.
Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich (3-3 on agg; 1-3 on penalties) - Bayern ends their drought in the Spanish capital (2011/12 Champions League Semifinal Second Leg)
The next generation of superstars emerged when Real Madrid and Bayern Munich locked horns again in the Champions League four seasons later, in the semifinal stage. The Whites were supervised by the ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho and had arguably their best player in history, Cristiano Ronaldo, in the squad that would dominate the competition in the coming years. On the other hand, Bayern were building their own legacy under Jupp Heynckes by creating a team that would win the European crown ahead of the Spanish giants at that time and establishing their ruthless domestic supremacy. They showed the glimmer of that in the 2-1 first-leg win at Allianz Arena with Mario Gomez’s late strike keeping them on the ascendency ahead of their visit to Spain. However, it was Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, a place where they often shine, especially in this rivalry and with them having the man to give the opposition more sleepless nights, Mourinho’s team were fired up with Ronaldo becoming the undisputed difference-maker.
The hosts started on a high note with Angel Di Maria’s volley hitting David Alaba on the arm inside the box, earning a penalty inside just six minutes. The Portuguese footballing star made no mistake in converting it with his staggering 25th consecutive successful spot kick before getting on the end of Mesut Ozil’s pass to make it 2-0 in the 14th minute. Just like that, the first leg deficit was blown away in the early storm, but Bayern remained composed in their game plan and unleashed ex-Real winger Arjen Robben, who helped his side climb back into the tie from his own spot-kick before the half-hour mark, making amends for his earlier miss from close range. With the tie levelled after extra-time with both sides fluffing some great chances, penalties became inevitable, where the Bavarians showed their pedigree. Both keepers, Casillas and Manuel Neuer, made crucial saves in the shootout, but Madrid was let down by their captain, Sergio Ramos, who ballooned his penalty. That opened the chance for Bastian Schweinsteiger to score the winner to end their long agony in Madrid and send Bayern to the Champions League final, hosted at home.
Real Madrid 4-2 Bayern Munich - Mr Champions League hat-trick sinks Bundesliga giants (2016/17 Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg)
However, Real Madrid’s wait to eliminate Bayern Munich from the Champions League will finally end when the two squared off in the 2016/17 Champions League quarterfinal stage, with the second leg hosted at Santiago Bernabeu. It was none other than ‘Mr Champions League’ Cristiano Ronaldo that delivered on the occasion for the holders, which will be among the landmark performances he has produced in one of the important results of the second of the three peat Real Madrid will achieve under the guidance of club legend Zinedine Zidane in the competition’s history. They had a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, but the Bavarians were very much in the tie, led by ex-Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, and are up for a strong fight to turn the result around despite their poor away record in this fixture.
But the game will go down in history as one of the most controversial ever played, with many certain biased officiating as VAR, though the system has produced its own doubts since its adoption, not there yet. Bayern’s start was excellent as they looked to be the side confident of making the evening of their own, but the host also made their presence felt, testing Nueur especially through Ronaldo. After an action-filled first half, the visitors’ pressure got them the reward as Arjen Robben came back to trouble his former side, earning a penalty from a Casemiro challenge, which Robert Lewandowski calmly placed to level the tie. However, that did not last long as the Brazilian midfielder made amends for his mistake by setting up Ronaldo for his first of the evening.
Yet, there were huge questions raised about whether an already booked Casemiro should have stayed on the pitch, after several second yellow card offences, with the frustration among Bayern fans rising after Arturo Vidal was given a straight red card for a perfect challenge, reducing his side to 10 men. That came when Ancelotti’s men climbed back into the match just five minutes earlier when a scuffed clearance hit Ramos and went into the net. After that event, the momentum swung to Los Blancos’s favour with them fully taking the main advantage in the extra period. However, controversy sparked there, too, as both of Ronaldo’s goals could have been easily ruled out for offside, but he won’t care as he not only completed a hat-trick but also hit 100 in the competition. Substitute Marco Asensio put the sealer to the tie as Bayern were left devastated.
Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich - Joselu magic completes remarkable turnaround (2023/24 Champions League Semifinal Second Leg)
One of the most dramatic endings to a game delivered by a substitute that the competition has ever witnessed happened in another semifinal tie between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, played in the 2023-24 season, once again at the Santiago Bernabeu, their eighth meeting at this stage of the competition. Los Blancos had Ancelotti this time in their dugout, who ushered in the next successful era for the club, while the visitor was managed by another Champions League-winning coach, Thomas Tuchel. The tie was open as both sides drew 2-2 at Allianz Arena in the first leg, making this encounter even more intense with just a step away from reaching the Champions League final. An opportunity neither could have missed.
Unlike the first leg, Real Madrid started strongly, with Vinícius Júnior, hero of the first leg by scoring a brace, giving the early threat after Neuer was forced to save his shot onto the post and then denying Rodrygo on the rebound spectacularly. The Brazilian pair tested the German shot stopper further while Bayern slowly grew into the game, especially after Alphonso Davies was brought onto the pitch with his immense pace stretching Madrid’s defence. It was he who scored the opening goal in the game, against the run of play, running onto a lofted pass by Harry Kane and finishing with a vicious curler to stun the Bernabeu for a brief period. However, Tuchel’s men were unaware that their dream of finally forgetting the ghost of their past at the venue and eliminating the record champions at their den would be extinguished soon.
When Spanish striker Joselu came onto the pitch, he was no more than an additional attacking player put in the mixer to salvage the tie for Real Madrid. Little did they know that the former Newcastle player would create an extraordinary moment to put his side into the showpiece and crush the opposition’s hearts again. Sent on with just 10 minutes remaining, he was able to react the quickest when Neuer fumbled a Viní Jr free-kick in the 88th minute to equalise the scoreline both in the game on aggregate. With Madrid piling up the pressure and Bayern retreating, Joselu was there for more heroism as he grabbed the winner in stoppage time to spark crazy scenes in the stadium that got its charm back, while Real marched to another showpiece in their history with a 4-3 aggregate win.
