by Super Progress Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:26 pm
Real Madrid - Bayern Munich: A Historical Look
Real Madrid host Bayern munich in the first-leg of their Champions League last sixteen clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday. As a part of Goal.com's build-up, Abhishek Thakur takes a look at the ten previous encounters between the two sides, shedding light on why this is one of the hottest rivalries in Europe.
1999-2000 Group Stage
It was a rampaging Bayern Munich side that turned up for the group stage, still hurting over their late final loss to Manchester United in the previous year’s final.
The two sidew were meeting after 1 years and the Germans attacked Madrid with unbelievable ferocity.
Vicente del Bosque was left clueless as Bayern first whipped them 4-2 at the Bernabeu, and then hammered them 4-1 in Munich.
Madrid still scraped through into the next round, but that was the beginning of the modern day rivalry between the two sides. It would never be the same again!
1999-2000 Semi Finals
Madrid were hurt, and wanted revenge!
Their chance came just months later, when the two sides met again, this time in the semi-finals! Madrid had just knocked defending champions Manchester United, but had not forgotten what had happened earlier in the season, and took to the Bernabeu keen to prove a point.
A certain Nicholas Anelka put Real Madrid ahead in the 4th minute, and a Jeremies own goal completed a miserable night for Bayern, as Los Merengues took a comfortable 2-0 lead into the second leg.
Jancker scored early in Munich to send a shiver through Madridista spines, but Anelka – who just couldn’t stop scoring – brought them back level in the 30th minute. That meant Bayern needed three more to qualify. They only managed one, through Giovanni Elber, and crashed out 2-3 on aggregate.
Madrid, meanwhile, went on to hammer Valencia 3-0 in the final, and make it their seventh European Cup, and kick off a supreme 'Galactic' era.
2000-01 Semi Finals
The two sides met again the following year, once again in the semi finals. Madrid started off strong at the Bernabeu, but missed a couple of chances against a firm Bayern defence as the first half ended scoreless.
Giovanni Elber – a former Deportivo man who had already tormented them in Spain – returned to be their nemesis as he surprised a young Iker Casillas with a fierce drive from over 38 yards out! A certain Oliver Kahn put in a superlative display as the Bavarians picked up a vital away win.
Elber scored early in the second leg to heap more misery, but Luis Figo handed Madrid some hope by bringing them level. That was short-lived, though, as Jens Jeremies - who had scored that own goal the previous year - sealed Bayern’s win with fifteen minutes to go.
Kahn made a couple of huge saves thereafter as Madrid crashed out. Bayern, meanwhile, went on to beat Valencia in the final on penalties, with Oliver Kahn earning legendary status for himself.
2001-02 Quarter Finals
The two sides clashed yet again the following year, this time in the quarter-finals.
Madrid would play the second leg at home, and just needed a decent result in Munich. However, Geremi beat Oliver Kahn from distance in the 11th minute to silence the Olympic Stadium. They then stood firm, and seemed to have put one foot into the semi-finals when Cesar saved an Effenberg penalty in the 70th minute.
However, the Bayern skipper returned to absolve himself with an 82nd minute goal. Pizarro then made it worse for Los Galacticos, as he slotted home a pass from strike partner Giovanni Elber. 2-1!
The win prompted the infamous phrase from Salihimidzic: "Real Madrid wet their pants when they're under pressure."
That proved to be just what Madrid needed, as they approached the home leg as if it was the end of the world. Helguera and Guti scored in the second half as Madrid won 2-0, with over 50 shots on goal (what have they come to now!) and went through 3-2 on aggregate.
2003-04, Last Sixteen
The latest of those ties came three seasons ago, when the two sides met in the first knock-out round. Roy Makaay, a former Deportivo man who had already tormented Madrid in Spain, put rampant Bayern ahead in the first leg.
However, a late free-kick from Roberto Carlos slipped through Kahn’s fingers to hand Los Merengues a valuable away draw. The late goal was followed up by some celebrations that were in poor taste, with Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos making fun of an ageing Kahn (Ronaldo had himself pounced on Kahn’s error 18 months earlier, in the World Cup final).
Bayern came to the Bernabeu looking for revenge, but it was a 32nd minute Zinedine Zidane strike - after being set up by Beckham and Salgado - that shocked them. Try as they did, they failed to find the equalizer that would have sent the tie into extra time.
Bayern crashed out, though Madrid also committed suicide against Monaco in the semi-finals. That was the beginning of the end of the 'Galactic' era.
Present
The two sided have not been their usual selves since, with the likes of Arsenal and Juve humbling Madrid, and Milan and Chelsea undoing Bayern. However, Tuesday’s game is certain to bring out the best, and the history above should explain just why!
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[b]
and recently we had our first game where we hadnt even made a shot on goal against a crappy team.a pretty picture of how we have gone. just hope it wont turn out to be the big bore its let up to be based on form and quality.
Home
and managed to win those games. 
