Real Madrid's Germany hoodoo: four wins in 30

Real Madrid have left a trail of destruction on their march to European glory over the past six decades, but there is a large tract of land that has remained mostly unconquered: Germany. In 30 previous visits they have managed just four wins, suffering 19 defeats and registering seven draws. We look back at the good, the bad and the ugly.

• Quarter-final draw

Hamburg 5-1 Real Madrid
1979/80 European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals
Madrid had one foot in their ninth European Cup final after beating Hamburg 2-0 in the opening instalment of this last-four tie. Yet, in what is regarded as HSV's finest hour (and a half), those dreams were shattered, Caspar Memering's last-minute strike capping a memorable triumph.

"The fans didn't want to go home and stayed in the stadium for around an hour," recalled defender Ditmar Jakobs. "It was the best HSV match of all time."

Kaiserslautern 5-0 Real Madrid
1981/82 UEFA Cup quarter-finals
In a game with distinct echoes of that Hamburg meeting, Madrid arrived in Germany with a two-goal first-leg cushion – 3-1 on this occasion – yet were back to square one in no time.

Two early strikes from Friedhelm Funkel gave Kaiserslautern an away-goals advantage and Madrid, the wounds of two years earlier reopened, imploded. Isidoro San José, Laurie Cunningham and Francisco Pineda were all sent off.

Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-1 Real Madrid
1985/86 UEFA Cup third round
Mönchengladbach's Bökelbergstadion was too small to accommodate the hordes wanting a glimpse of Madrid so this tie switched to Dusseldorf – and the 65,000 crowd were not disappointed.

Amid driving rain Jupp Heynckes's side did not so much make themselves at home as raid the fridge, light a fire and fall asleep in front of the TV. A consolation from Rafael Gordillo, who was later sent off, proved decisive, though. Madrid won 4-0 at home to take the tie on away goals.

The 4-1 win was Lothar Matthäus's last outing for Bayern©Getty Images

Bayern München 4-1 Real Madrid
1999/2000 UEFA Champions League second group stage
On paper, the Merengues were favourites, yet twice in nine days in spring 2000 Bayern tore up the script. They triumphed 4-2 at the Santiago Bernabéu and went even better the following week, displaying the ruthless streak that would serve them so well in their run to 2001 European Cup glory. Madrid were two down inside the first half-hour after goals from Mehmet Scholl and Giovane Elber.

Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 Real Madrid
2000/01 UEFA Champions League group stage
Twice Vicente del Bosque's side fell behind in this matchday two fixture, to goals from Bernd Schneider and Michael Ballack, only for Roberto Carlos and Guti to restore parity. Roberto Carlos hit the winner 15 minutes from time. It was the only time in 144 appearances in UEFA competition that the Brazilian left-back scored twice in a game.

Bayern München 2-1 Real Madrid
2000/01 UEFA Champions League semi-finals
It was a closer affair 12 months later. Elber had earned a 1-0 victory at the Bernabéu and his header eight minutes into the return put Bayern firmly in the driving seat. Luís Figo's swift response made it a less comfortable ride, but Jens Jeremies afforded the hosts breathing space.

"We have completed a small miracle," said coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, whose team beat Valencia in the final.

Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Real Madrid
2012/13 UEFA Champions League semi-finals
Madrid's sixth successive defeat on German soil and certainly one of the most comprehensive as Robert Lewandowski crushed José Mourinho's men, the Poland striker becoming the first player to score four goals in a UEFA Champions League semi-final. "Something clicked in the second half," said coach Jürgen Klopp, whose side conceded twice late on in a 2-0 loss in Madrid.