Real v Bayern: Four meetings to remember
When FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF meet in their forthcoming UEFA Champions League semi-final, it will be a perfect opportunity for the German side to avenge their 3-2 aggregate defeat at the same stage of last year's competition. Having beaten their Spanish opponents in convincing fashion during the Second Group Stage, Bayern then crashed out of the tournament during their thrilling two-legged encounter.
(From www.uefa.com)
Sensational fixture
The Second Group Stage of last season’s competition saw Bayern and Real face each other for the first time in competition since 1987/88. On 29 February 2000 Bayern travelled to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, Madrid, for what proved to be a sensational fixture.
Vital three points
The German champions broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when Mehmet Scholl found space to finish neatly, before Steffan Effenberg doubled the visitors’ advantage just two minutes later. Fernando Morientes pulled a goal back for Real in the 25th minute, but Bayern made it 3-1 at half-time when midfielder Thorsten Fink finished off a fine move to put his side firmly in the driving seat. The second half produced similar drama, as Raúl González reduced the deficit for the hosts, before Brazilian forward Paulo Sérgio ensured the 4-2 victory and a vital three points for Bayern with his 66th-minute strike.
Dazzling affair
The return game at the Olympiastadion, Munich, in March was an equally dazzling affair and Bayern emerged victorious once more. Scholl proved to be Real's tormentor for the second game in succession, scoring with ease after just three minutes. The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Spanish side and they fell further behind on the half-hour mark when Giovane Elber blasted home to make it 2-0. Iván Helguera made it 2-1 in the second half, but two late goals from Alexander Zickler were enough to break Real hearts and confirm Bayern as winners of Group C.
Attacking weapon
After both sides had come through the quarter-finals, their semi-final first leg was played in Madrid on 2 May 2000 in front of a sell-out Bernabéu crowd. French international striker Nicolas Anelka gave the hosts the perfect start with his well taken fourth-minute strike and Real continued to dominate first-half proceedings. In the 32nd minute Míchel Salgado burst into the penalty area and Bayern midfielder Jens Jeremies attempted to retrieve possession but only managed to divert the ball past Kahn and into the empty net.
Two-goal cushion
Bayern fought back hard in the second half, with Elber and Hasan Salihamidzic going close while Real 'keeper Iker Casillas was forced to deny Scholl with a fine save. But compared to their earlier victories over Real, Bayern looked unfocused and ungainly in attack and gave their opponents little cause for concern. The final whistle put Bayern out of their misery and Real had a two-goal cushion to take to Munich for the second leg.
Looking for revenge
The Olympiastadion welcomed the two European giants six days after Real's first-leg win, with Bayern looking for revenge and a route to the Champions League final. Savio replaced Morientes in the starting lineup for Real, while head coach Vicente Del Bosque played Julio Cesar in defence in place of Aitor Karanka. Bayern gave Samuel Kuffour a start ahead of Thomas Linke, while Effenberg and Patrick Andersson were recalled to the starting eleven.
Sucker-punch
Needing just one away goal to surely put the tie beyond the hosts, Real attacked early on but were caught by a Bayern sucker-punch after just 12 minutes. Scholl played a diagonal ball to the far post where Elber headed back across goal and Carsten Jancker twisted to hook a volley beyond Casillas. Kuffour then somehow cleared Raúl's effort off his own line, before Kahn was happy to see a Raúl header just clear the crossbar. But Anelka then scored the vital away goal for the visitors, his perfectly placed header from Savio's deep cross eluding the diving hand of Kahn and bulging the back of the net.
Dramatic football
Bayern put themselves in front again at the start of the second half when Effenberg floated in a delightful free-kick and Elber sent 60,000 fans wild with a glancing header past the helpless Casillas. Effenberg and Scholl probed for another goal to get the hosts back in the game, but time ran out and Real claimed a famous victory and a place in the Champions League final. Their 3-0 win over Valencia CF in Paris may have claimed the trophy for Real, but the four matches against Bayern had provided some of the most exciting and dramatic football of the season.