Champions League quarter-final first leg: Real Madrid vs Bayern facts

One of European football's most enduring rivalries has its latest chapter as Real Madrid welcome Bayern München to the Santiago Bernabéu for the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Madrid reached this stage for the sixth season in succession by overcoming Manchester City in the round of 16 (3-0 h, 2-1 a); they had finished ninth in the league phase before beating Benfica (1-0 a, 2-1 h) in the knockout phase play-offs.

Bayern were second in the league phase and made it nine wins in their ten games in this season's competition at the expense of Atalanta in the last 16 (6-1 a, 4-1 h).

Last match

This is the teams' 29th meeting – the most in UEFA club competition – all in the European Cup. Madrid have 13 wins to Bayern's 11, scoring 45 goals – three more than their German rivals.

This is Madrid's 41st European Cup quarter-final, a record; Bayern are second with 36 appearances, although in the Champions League era Bayern have a record 24 last-eight appearances, two more than Madrid.

Madrid have won the last four two-legged ties between the teams, most recently 4-3 on aggregate in the 2023/24 semi-finals. Vinícius Júnior struck twice in a 2-2 first-leg draw in Munich, Harry Kane getting Bayern's second goal; Alphonso Davies scored for the visitors in a 2-1 second-leg loss in Madrid.

That made it nine matches unbeaten against Bayern for Madrid (W7 D2) and was their seventh home win in their last eight matches against the German club (D1).

Madrid have won all three quarter-finals against Bayern, in 1987/88, 2001/02 and 2016/17.

The Spanish side have scored in 26 of their 28 games against Bayern.

Madrid have lost only one of their last 23 matches against German teams (W16 D6) and are unbeaten in nine (W7 D2); a 5-2 victory against Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 3 last season was their fourth in a row.

That was Madrid's 19th win in their last 25 home matches against German clubs (D5 L1).

Madrid have won their last nine knockout ties against Bundesliga opposition, since a 3-4 aggregate defeat by Dortmund in the 2012/13 Champions League semi finals. They have also won all seven ties involving German teams in European Cup quarter-finals.

Bayern lost 4-1 at Barcelona on Matchday 3 last season, their most recent game against Spanish opponents; they have two wins in their last seven games with Liga sides (D2 L3).

That was also Bayern's third defeat in four games in Spain (W1).

Bayern have lost seven of their last eight two-legged ties against Spanish teams.

Real Madrid

Madrid are in the Champions League proper for the 30th time, a competition record they share with Barcelona. They have qualified for the knockout rounds in all 30 campaigns.

A team coached by Carlo Ancelotti were 11th in last season's league phase (W5 L3), losing 1-5 on aggregate to Arsenal in the quarter-finals (0-3 a, 1-2 h).

Bayern München 

Bayern have featured in the Champions League proper in every season since 2008/09, reaching the knockout rounds every time. This is their 29th campaign, fewer only than Barcelona and Real Madrid (both 30).

Twelfth in last season's league phase (W5 L3), the German club lost 3-4 on aggregate to Inter in the quarter-finals (1-2 h, 2-2 a).

Key stats

Madrid's record in European Cup quarter-finals is W33 L7. Last season's defeat by Arsenal ended a run of 12 straight wins.

Madrid have won nine of their 12 Champions League matches this season (L3), including all four in the knockout phase.

The Merengues have won five of their six home games in this season's competition (L1).

Madrid have won 12 of their last 14 Champions League knockout ties.

None of Madrid's last 68 European matches has finished goalless, since a 0-0 draw at Liverpool in the 2020/21 quarter final second leg.

Thirteen of Vinícius Júnior's last 15 Champions League goals have come in the second half.

Bayern have lost four of their last five Champions League quarter-final ties.

The German club have won nine of their ten matches this season (L1), scoring 32 goals.

Bayern have lost only one of their last eight away Champions League matches (W6 D1).

Kane's double in the round of 16 second leg made him the first English player to score 50 Champions League goals.

Kane has scored 14 goals in his last 13 Champions League appearances.

Kane also scored in the away leg of Bayern's previous two quarter-finals.