The second match of the 2023-24 Champions League is on a knife-edge after last week’s match in Germany, with Real Madrid hosting Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu after drawing 2-2 in the first leg. A tight performance left the Spanish giants as favorites in Madrid, where they have won six and drawn one of their last seven games against Bayern. The winner will face Dortmund in the final on June 1.
While Carlo Ancelotti’s side are preparing for the second leg celebrating the 35th Spanish title they secured in Barcelona’s loss to Girona, Bayern Munich’s preparations were more difficult after losing 3-1 to Stuttgart last weekend. If they register an eighth defeat, following their seventh in 2024, it would be Bayern’s first trophyless season since 2012. Here’s how to watch the game and what you need to know.
View information
- date: Wednesday May 8th | hour: 3 PM ET
- location: Santiago Bernabeu – Madrid
- TV: CBS | Live Stream: Paramount+
- multiplication: Real Madrid -110; Draw +275. Bayern Munich +275
What happened in game 1?
Bayern Munich started much brighter at the Allianz Arena, but in a manner that will have become boringly familiar to their supporters this season, a clumsy mistake in defense allowed Vinicius Junior to score Madrid’s first touch in the opposition penalty area. Thomas Tuchel’s side came under pressure as the contest continued and looked dominant early in the second half. Leroy Sane’s rocket put the teams level before Jamal Musiala was fouled by Lucas Vazquez and Harry Kane put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot.
But Madrid did not lose, and Minjae Kim ended a miserable night by bringing down Rodrigo. Vinicius equalized for the visitors in the 83rd minute and neither side seemed to change the equation on the night.
how did they get here
Real Madrid: Aside from a brief late push from RB Leipzig in the first leg, Madrid didn’t particularly slow down in the early stages of the competition, topping the group with six wins out of six. Manchester City, who negotiated with Germany in last year’s round of 16, were waiting in the quarter-finals. A 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu could have been the tie of the round, with Federico Valverde’s 79th-minute goal giving Madrid a vital foothold at the Etihad Stadium. Rodrigo scored early for the visitors but was denied Kevin De Bruyne’s equalizer as City continued to press. Luka Modric may have missed a penalty, but Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic also missed penalties, sending Madrid through to the last four once again.
Bayern Munich: Tuchel’s men never looked like they would miss top spot in Group A, despite mediocre fields from Galatasaray, Copenhagen and Manchester United giving them plenty of trouble. This bad weather continued until the round of 16, where Lazio won the first leg, Bayern announced that Tuchel would leave at the end of the season, and Thomas Müller and Kane led an impressive comeback. Allianz Arena. Perhaps Bayern’s best performance so far came against Arsenal. Struggling from an early deficit, the visitors drew 2-2 in London, with Joshua Kimmich’s only goal capping off an impressive home win for the six-time champions.
team news
Real Madrid: The return of Thibaut Courtois was welcome in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Cadiz. Although the Belgian may still have some work to do if he is to overtake Andriy Lunin, who has deputized so brilliantly this season, for a starting spot. The return of the No. 1 means David Alaba, who is out for the season and Euro 2024 with a knee injury, is Ancelotti’s only senior player, while Ancelotti replaces Aurelien Chouameni after Nacho was withdrawn 65 minutes from the end of the game. You can also put it in the defensive position. First leg. Dani Carvajal is also available after the suspension of the Munich trip.
Possible Madrid XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Chuameni, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrigo, Vinicius
Bayern Munich: Does Tuchel trust Kim Yu-na, whom he criticized for playing ‘greedy’ defense in the first leg? Should he anyway? With Matthias de Ligt returning to training two days ago, the South Korea international could be pushed back into the side alongside Tottenham loanee Eric Dier, who has surprised many by establishing himself as a key player. Further forward Raphael Guerreiro’s impressive play off the bench opens the door for him to potentially give Jamal Musiala more looks in the middle. Likewise, Serge Gnabry could start instead.
Possible Bayern XI: recent; Kimmich, Dyer, De Ligt, Davis; Reimer, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Gnabri; kane
prediction
There’s something about this team that makes me think they can deliver an even bigger barn burner than the first leg. Strap in for something really fun. Choose: Real Madrid 3, Bayern Munich 3 (Bayern wins in penalty shootout)
Semifinal TV Schedule
Always US/Eastern
