Real Madrid thrive on beating German teams in the Champions League
Real Madrid has booked their ticket to yet another Champions League Final after getting past Bayern Munich in the semis. Here’s a look at their odd affair with German teams in the UCL.
Los Blancos will make their third consecutive Champions League Final appearance on May 26th in Kiev. This will also be their fourth appearance in the last five seasons. After titles in 2016 and 2017, manager Zinedine Zidane will look to guide his team to an unprecedented third consecutive title this year.
This UCL Final will be Real’s 16th appearance in the cup title game. In the 15 Finals Real has played in, they have won on 12 occasions (an 80 percent success rate). While there are plenty of statistics in favor of Real Madrid, there is one recurring theme that has brought about victory.
The greatest club in UCL history currently boasts an incredible 12 titles, half of which have come from beating German opposition. Six of Madrid’s titles involved beating a German time at some point of the group stage or knockout phase of the competition. Those six titles have been the last six that Real have hoisted proudly.
Here’s a look at the German teams Madrid punished before claiming victory in the Champions League:
La Septima (Seventh)
The seventh Champions League title for Real Madrid came in the 1997-1998 season where they faced German opposition twice. Real beat Bayer Leverkusen in the quarterfinal 4-1 on aggregate. Madrid would then play Borussia Dortmund in the next round before defeating Juventus in the Final.
- Quarterfinal – Bayer Leverkusen
- Semifinal – Borussia Dortmund
La Octava (Eighth)
Real Madrid played juggernauts Bayern Munich four times in the 1999-2000 Champions League. Madrid was placed in the same group as Munich and then squared off against them again in the semifinals.
- Group stage and semifinal – Bayern Munich
La Novena (Ninth)
The Ninth Champions League victory came with one of the most memorable goals in Real Madrid history. Los Blancos would again face off against two German teams before another championship.
Real beat Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals before going on to beat Bayer Leverkusen in what made for one of the most memorable goals by Zinedine Zidane.
La Decima (Tenth)
It would be 12 years before Real Madrid would win another Champions League title and claim the infamous “La Decima.” The incredible added-time goal by Sergio Ramos is one that will be remembered for generations to come. Leading up to that success, Real Madrid played three German teams, each one in the knockout stages.
- Round of 16 – Schalke 04
- Quarterfinal – Borussia Dortmund
- Semifinal – Bayern Munich
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La Undecmia (Eleventh)
Just two years after picking up their tenth UCL title, Madrid would chase number eleven. They played yet another German team as they beat Wolfsburg in the quarterfinals, with a memorable performance by Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Quarterfinal – Wolfsburg
La Duodecima (twelfth)
Madrid would have to beat Bayern Munich yet again in the quarterfinals before making their way to the Final in Cardiff, where they defeated Juventus 4-1.
- Quarterfinals – Bayern Munich
Real Madrid has made it a habit of taking down sides representing the Bundesliga, and if they manage to win a thirteenth title in a couple weeks, they will have gone through Borussia Dortmund in the group stage and Bayern Munich, once again, in the semifinal.
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