Real Madrid vs Bayern Champions League semi-final second leg preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, expected line-ups
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
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When is it? How can you watch it? What are the predicted line-ups? All you need to know about the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg between Real Madrid and Bayern.
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Real Madrid and Bayern meet in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday 8 May.
Real Madrid vs Bayern at a glance
When: Wednesday 8 May (21:00 CET)
Where: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
What: UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg
First-leg score: Bayern 2-2 Madrid
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage can be found here
Where to watch Real Madrid vs Bayern on TV
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
What do you need to know?
Vinícius Júnior delivered a fierce reminder of Real Madrid's potency in the Champions League in the first leg, his two finishes in a 2-2 draw leaving home coach Thomas Tuchel frustrated. "It feels strange," he said in his post-match press conference. "They turned two chances into two goals." He and his players were well aware that the first leg was a game Bayern might easily have won, but having proved that they can cause Madrid problems, they will be determined to do so again.
Confirmed as Spanish Liga winners for a 36th time on Saturday, Madrid have not lost a Champions League home game since going down 3-2 to Chelsea in the 2021/22 quarter-finals, but the 14-time European Champions have yet to win in front of their own fans in this season's knockout stage: they drew 1-1 with Leipzig in the round of 16 then 3-3 with Manchester City in the quarter-finals. Winning at the Bernabéu always looks like a tall order for any visitors but a draw and then a shoot-out? Rule nothing out.
Predicted line-ups
Real Madrid: Lunin; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Tchouaméni, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga, Bellingham; Vinícius, Rodrygo
Suspended: None
Bayern: Neuer; Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Mazraoui; Goretzka, Laimer; Sané, Müller, Musiala; Kane
Suspended: None
Form guide
Real Madrid
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WDWWDW
Most recent result: Real Madrid 2-0 Cádiz, 04/05, Spanish La Liga
Bayern
Form (all competitions, most recent first): LDWWWW
Most recent result: Stuttgart 3-1 Bayern, 04/05, German Bundesliga
Expert predictions
Graham Hunter, Real Madrid reporter
Spain's newly-crowned champions now have a huge Champions League test in which they can make this a truly extraordinary week. Dani Carvajal returns from suspension in what could be a key position given Bayern's impressive wing-play last week. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois returned at the weekend having been out since August - is it too soon for him? Possibly, but the rest of Ancelotti’s XI will feel the time is just right. There'll be a phenomenal atmosphere and unmissable elite football. Don't miss this under any circumstances
James Thorogood, Bayern reporter
After shaping up for a first trophyless season since 2012, it would be "Typisch Bayern" (typical Bayern) to fashion a chance at Europe's biggest prize. 90 minutes - or maybe more - away from that opportunity, all the talk in Munich is of a "classic 50-50". It's the first-leg performance, though, and not Saturday's 3-1 loss to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, that provides the source of confidence as the German record titleholders travel to the Spanish capital.
What the coaches say
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach: "I always have a lot of confidence because we are Real Madrid. I have the best squad; the team has done very well this season. Real Madrid and Bayern are very similar. We respect Bayern a lot. They were better than us in the first leg. We have to do our best. We have the chance to play another final. We know semi-finals are difficult but we are up for it."
Thomas Tuchel, Bayern coach: "I think it could be a game that comes in waves, with different phases. Both teams will have to suffer at times. Both teams are extremely strong at keeping the ball and very strong in quick transition play. I think it will be a very complex game. In the phases where you have the momentum, you need luck and to be clinical."
Where is the 2024 Champions League final?
The best of the best will be crowned on the ultimate stage when the 2023/24 Champions League season concludes at London's prestigious Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1 June.
The winners gain a place in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League group stage, if they have not qualified via their domestic competition.