Why Bayern will beat Real Madrid again in the UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals is a match-up worthy of being the title-decider, and the Bavarians have a one-goal advantage ahead of the second leg at the Allianz Arena. Here’s why Vincent Kompany’s men can be confident of making it through to the last four...
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You can’t keep Bayern out
Bayern have played 45 competitive games so far this season, and have scored in every single one of them. In fact, they have found the net at least three times in six of their 11 Champions League outings this term.
Furthermore, Bayern’s tally of 34 goals in the competition in 2025/26 is behind only Paris Saint-Germain (36), with the caveat that both of those teams played an extra round by virtue of going through to the last 16 via the play-offs.
Watch: All Bayern's 105 Bundesliga goals in 2025/26
It will come as no surprise to hear the name Harry Kane mentioned at this juncture. The 32-year-old, who has contributed 11 goals to Bayern’s cause in Europe this season, is very much the team’s talisman and underlined his extraordinary quality with a breathtaking goal against Atalanta in the second leg of their last-16 meeting, as well as the second goal in the 2-1 first-leg triumph at the Bernabéu.
“Harry’s incredible,” enthused Kompany after the Atalanta effort. “He’s just come back from injury, and I can’t even explain his second goal. The movement - it’s unbelievable, world-class. We’re very happy to have him.”
Steely mentality
In previous seasons there was perhaps a sense that Bayern had a soft underbelly when it came to the crunch in Europe. Not now, though. Kompany has his squad purring, and they have been astonishingly consistent all season with just two defeats and four draws in all competitions. The rest have all been victories.
And while the tactician is full of respect for Real Madrid, calling them “the best team in the history of the Champions League” ahead of the first leg, Los Merengues have looked vulnerable in 2025/26, losing four times in Europe and five in La Liga.
The win in the Spanish capital was Bayern’s first at the 15-time European champions in 90 minutes since 2001, and their strong record against Spanish clubs in front of their own supporters - they have lost just four of their 33 such matches in Europe’s premier club competition - will only give them more belief.
Relentless attack
Kane may be the focal point but Bayern can hurt teams from anywhere. Michael Olise has a competition-leading eight assists so far this season, one more than Real’s Vinícius Júnior.
Luis Díaz added his fifth goal in Madrid to add to his three assists, Serge Gnabry has two and four, Nicolas Jackson has three of each, injured youngster Lennart Karl has four and two, while right-back Konrad Laimer has three assists across eight games.
Not to mention Jamal Musiala, with two strikes in just 128 minutes of play; the Germany international is fit again and, even if he only features from the bench, has undeniable match-winning qualities.
Watch: Olise under the tactical microscope
Case for the defence
Bayern may only have kept two clean sheets in the Champions League this season, but they have also shipped just 11 goals in total. That return means they have the joint second-stingiest backline in the competition, with only Arsenal having conceding fewer (five).
Manuel Neuer, now 40, offers stability, experience and reliability between the sticks, which he showed by winning the Man of the Match award against Real in the first leg. Meanwhile back-up goalkeeper Jonas Urbig has proved to be a top-class replacement – to the extent that he was recently called up to Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad for the first time.
Watch: Neuer's best saves this season
Ahead of him, the terrier-like Laimer will be unfazed by facing either Vinícius Júnior or Kylian Mbappé down Bayern’s right, while Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano form a centre-back pairing as mean as they come.
Alphonso Davies impressed in a 20-minute cameo in Spain and could play a decisive role at the Allianz Arena, so Josip Stanišić will likely operate at left-back, with Joshua Kimmich patrolling in front of the backline. It is a proven recipe for success - and one that could well propel Bayern into the semi-finals.
