Bayern Munich host Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final as two of Europe’s greatest clubs meet for a place in the Wembley final.
But at the centre of the action is a battle between two of England’s biggest stars, as Harry Kane takes on his England international team-mate Jude Bellingham at the Allianz Arena. Kane helped Bayern Munich knock out Arsenal in the quarter-finals, while Bellingham kept his cool as Real Madrid stunned holders Manchester City following a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
It leaves both of these teams as the favourites to win the Champions League, with Borussia Dortmund facing Paris Saint-Germain in the other semi-final tomorrow. Bellingham will be attempting to lead Madrid to a record-extending 15th European crown, while Kane is out to end his own personal trophy drought and drag Thomas Tuchel’s beleaguered side to a season-saving Champions League title.
Bayern and Real Madrid are no strangers on this stage. In fact, it’s the most played tie in Champions League history and Real Madrid last triumphed against Bayern in the semi-finals in 2018 on their way to winning their 13th title in Kyiv.
Follow live updates from the Champions League semi-final first leg, below, and see our Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid predictions here.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid LIVE: Latest Champions League updates
Bayern Munich host Real Madrid in Champions League semi-final first leg, with kick-off at 8pm
Clash of European giants features battle between England stars Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham
Bayern Munich XI: Neuer, Kimmich, Dier, Min-Jae, Mazraoui, Goretzka, Laimer, Muller, Musiala, Sane, Kane
Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Vazquez, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy, Tchouameni, Valverde, Kroos, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr.
FC Bayern München – Real Madrid CF
Bayern team news
19:07 , Ben Fleming
Tuchel makes three changes from his side’s 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend. Kim Min-Jae replaces De Ligt at centre-back, while the returning Musiala and Sane are preferred to Choupo-Moting and Guerreiro in the attacking three behind Kane.
Bayern Munich XI: Neuer, Kimmich, Dier, Min-Jae, Mazraoui, Goretzka, Laimer, Muller, Musiala, Sane, Kane
Subs: Peretz, Ulreich, Upamecano, Gnabry, Choupo-Moting, Bryan, Davies, Guerreiro, Tel, Pavlovic.
Bayern team is in!
18:57 , Ben Fleming
And the hosts have now confirmed their team news:
The scene is set
18:50 , Ben Fleming
Just over an hour to go until kick-off in Munich:
Bayern early team news
18:40 , Ben Fleming
Bayern’s injury concerns remain centred around their speedy attacking options, with Kingsley Coman set to miss out, while Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry remain doubts having only just returned to training.
Centre-back Dayot Upamecano is also out, but Alphonso Davies will return after being suspended for the second leg against Man City.
Thomas Tuchel will have to wait on the availability of Jamal Musiala, who will have a fitness test ahead of the game, as will Konrad Laimer and Matthijs de Ligt.
Bayern predicted XI: Neuer, Kimmich, Dier, Min-jae, Davies, Goretzka, Pavlovic, Muller, Musiala, Guerreiro, Kane
Team news coming shortly
18:30 , Ben Fleming
Real Madrid have already announced their starting XI but we’re still waiting for Bayern Munich’s. Here’s a reminder of that Madrid XI before some early Bayern team news
Kane on the cusp of history
18:20 , Ben Fleming
Harry Kane has been directly involved in 10 goals in 10 games for Bayern Munich in the Champions League this season (7 goals, 3 assists). Should he score or assist in this game, he would establish a new record for the most goal involvements by an English player in a single campaign in the competition (also 10 by David Beckham in 1998-99 and 2001-02 and Steven Gerrard in 2007-08).
(Getty Images)
Head-to-head record
18:10 , Ben Fleming
The head-to-head record is finely poised, with Madrid narrowly edging Bayern with 12 wins compared to the German club’s 11.
Despite the even historical record, though, it is Madrid who have dominated the team’s encounters in recent years. In fact, Bayern are winless in their last seven games against tonight’s opposition, losing six of those meetings (D1). Indeed, this is the German’s side longest winless run against an opponent in European competition.
Two old foes collide
18:00 , Ben Fleming
The last time these sides met was in the 2017/18 Champions League semi-finals, with Madrid prevailing 4-3 on aggregate.
Ahead of tonight, the fixture was already the most played fixture in the history of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League (26 games), with 24 of those coming in the knockout stages of the competition – also the most between two sides.
What will match number 27 have in store?
(Getty Images)
Real Madrid team news!
17:58 , Ben Fleming
Well, far earlier than we were expecting but we have Real Madrid’s starting line-up for tonight:
Having rung the changes for their 1-0 win against Real Sociedad at the weekend, Anceloitt returns to his strongest side, with only Tchouameni keeping his place in the side.
Real Madrid: Lunin; Vazquez, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy, Tchouameni, Valverde, Kroos, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr.
Subs: Courtois, Kepa, Militao, Modric, Camavinga, Joselu, Ceballos, Garcia, Diaz, Guller.
Coming up tomorrow
17:50 , Ben Fleming
Tomorrow night, it’s the turn of Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain in the other Champions League semi-final. The first leg will take place in Germany and the home side have been boosted by the return of four key players.
Here’s the latest:
Dortmund boosted by return of four key players ahead of PSG clash
Special send-off for the home side
17:30 , Ben Fleming
All of Bayern’s club employees lined the streets outside their training ground to give their team a special send-off ahead of tonight’s game.
Valverde – ‘We’re hungry to make the final’
17:10 , Ben Fleming
The Uruguayan midfield also spoke to the media ahead of tonight’s semi-final and insisted his side remain as hungry as ever as they look to capture a famous double this season.
“We’re excited. It’s the first time that I play against this team in the competition. I have faith and I’m eager to play. I’m happy for all I’m experiencing with this team. You have to appreciate every moment defending these colours and this jersey. Winning this competition is so valuable and it’s a beautiful thing,” he said.
“I have absolute confidence in my team. We have to respect our opposition and the club we’re up against. We have real faith in the players here. The defenders, the midfielders and forwards. We’re excited, hungry to make the final and we’ll fight to do just that.”
(Getty Images)
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid latest updates
16:50 , Ben Fleming
Carlo Ancelotti previews the semi-final further, speaking to TNT Sports:
“There is something special about this shirt, about this club” 🤍
Carlo Ancelotti talks Real Madrid’s prestige in the #UCL and facing former club Bayern Munich, as well as former rival Thomas Tuchel…
🎙️ @julesbreach pic.twitter.com/lj3asYh859
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 30, 2024
Carlo Ancelotti – ‘Everyone knows what we can do’
16:30 , Ben Fleming
Ancelotti is the most successful coach in the competition’s history with five victories, while Real Madrid are eyeing up a record-extending 15th title.
“Real Madrid are never underrated in this competition. Everyone knows what we can do. To be honest, we feel hugely respected by everyone in this competition,” the Italian said on Monday.
“We are confident but we have great respect for this team. They haven’t had the best season in the Bundesliga but they played a very impressive tie against Arsenal. They were very good in both games. We have to look at that, Arsenal are a very strong side in Europe and they delivered two superb displays.”
(AP)
Tuchel predicts goalscoring return for star player
16:10 , Ben Fleming
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry scored in the quarter-final first leg against Arsenal but has since missed his last four games with injury. The 28-year-old, though, is due to return from injury tonight and Tuchel is confident that the attacker will mark his return in style.
“Serge Gnabry will score tomorrow. It will happen. I don’t know how I know, but it will happen,” he said.
Only time will tell with that prediction…
(AP)
Thomas Tuchel – ‘We have a lot of confidence’
15:50 , Ben Fleming
Speaking ahead of tonight’s match, the Bayern boss was full of optimism.
“We are ready, we have a lot of confidence. It was important to beat Arsenal. Now the next step is against Real Madrid. We want to be competitive and reach Wembley. We have to focus on tomorrow and be well prepared,” Tuchel said in the pre-match press conference.
“We need an absolutely top atmosphere. It was already great against Arsenal – it has to be even better now. We also need the spectators to support us, even in moments when it’s more difficult.
“We need maximum support to get through phases in which we have to suffer. Together with the spectators, we need to create an atmosphere that gives us an advantage.”
(PA Wire)
Kings of Europe can reclaim crown as Man City denied the double treble
15:30 , Ben Fleming
Real Madrid, meanwhile, reached yet another Champions League semi-final after their dramatic penalty-shootout win against defending champions Manchester City.
Both sides met in the tournament’s knockout stages for a third successive season but it was Carlo Ancelotti’s side that prevailed to deny City a chance at a famous double treble.
Here’s a recap of the wild second leg in Manchester:
Kings of Europe can reclaim crown as Man City denied the double treble
How Bayern reached this point
15:10 , Ben Fleming
The German giants came through their quarter-final against Arsenal courtesy of a 1-0 home win in the second leg. After a 2-2 draw at the Emirates, it was Joshua Kimmich’s second-half strike and the experience of Thomas Tuchel’s men that ultimately prevailed against the Gunners at the Allianz Arena.
Here’s a recap of the second leg:
Arsenal’s wasted Champions League opportunity comes down to one clear thing
Thomas Tuchel, the dead man walking towards a historic Champions League three-peat
14:50 , Ben Fleming
It was a nine-year low, leaving Bayern Munich destined to plummet to depths they had not experienced at the end of a season for 12 years. When Thomas Tuchel’s departure was announced, they had just lost three consecutive games, for the first time since 2015. Bundesliga losses to Bayer Leverkusen and Heidenheim, one emphatic against the league leaders, the other embarrassing against relative minnows, rendered it a formality that, for the first time since 2012, Bayern would not be champions. Sandwiched by them the other setback in a disastrous eight days was 1-0 to Lazio. To compound a wretched season, Bayern risked missing out of the Champions League quarter-finals, something they had only done once since 2011.
Tuchel, Bayern said in February, would stay until the end of the season. The temptation was to wonder if he would make it that far. Now an alternative exit feels feasible. Instead of becoming another Jurgen Klinsmann, a big name to flounder amid the unique pressures of Sabener Strasse, Tuchel may yet emulate Jupp Heynckes, conquering Europe in his final act.
Richard Jolly takes a look at the confusing last season of Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel:
Thomas Tuchel, the dead man walking towards a historic Champions League three-peat
Harry Kane v Jude Bellingham: English generations collide in Champions League semi-final
14:30 , Ben Fleming
As Harry Kane already knows, Jude Bellingham isn’t shy about telling people what he thinks. That isn’t necessarily to berate them, either. The 20-year-old has taken to paternalistically encouraging teammates as if he is a senior professional… like, for example, Harry Kane. In most cases, this would infuriate more established players. In Bellingham’s case, it is just part of the package. He ‘walks the walk’, as teammates put it. Kane has even recognised this with England, where his own approach is quieter and more about leadership by example.
The different paths now converge at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday and then the Bernabeu next Wednesday, to see which of England’s two most influential players will get to play at Wembley for the club season’s crowning game. The fact both are seen as potentially making Euro 2024 their tournament, given their own connections with Germany, only offers another layer. This is the highest goalscorer in England’s history, up against the national team’s future, both playing for the present.
Miguel Delaney takes a look at the two English stars of tonight’s semi-final:
Kane v Bellingham: English generations collide in Champions League semi-final
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid prediction: European giants clash in Bavaria
14:06 , Ben Fleming
Two giants of European football collide in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash as Bayern Munich host Real Madrid at Allianz Arena on Tuesday (8pm, TNT Sports 1).
What was forecast to be an all-English last-four encounter when the draw for the competition’s latter stages was made is instead a showdown between the two marquee clubs of Germany and Spain after Bayern overcame Arsenal, while Real defeated Man City in the quarter-finals.
It has been a disappointing season for Bayern, who have surrendered their Bundesliga crown to Bayer Leverkusen, ending 11 years of dominance in Germany.
Thomas Tuchel is set to leave the club at the end of the campaign with Ralf Rangnick the current favourite in the next Bayern Munich manager betting, although there’s been no official confirmation as to who will replace him in the dugout.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men are closing in on the LaLiga crown. The season is heading towards a very exciting climax for Los Blancos, although they’re underdogs with football betting sites to start the semi-final tie with a win on the road.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid prediction: European giants clash in Bavaria
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid latest updates
14:05 , Jamie Braidwood
Odds
Bayern 29/20
Draw 12/5
Real 7/4
You can get free bets for the match here.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid latest updates
14:04 , Jamie Braidwood
Predicted line-ups
FCB – Neuer, Kimmich, Dier, Min-jae, Davies, Goretzka, Pavlovic, Muller, Musiala, Guerreiro, Kane
RMA – Lunin, Vazquez, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Mendy, Camavinga, Valverde, Kroos, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid latest updates
14:03 , Jamie Braidwood
What is the Real Madrid team news?
Real Madrid are definitely without the suspended Dani Carvajal and the injured David Alaba, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is a long-term absentee. Jude Bellingham has been ill but should return, while Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy are also likely to play after absences.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid latest updates
14:02 , Jamie Braidwood
What is the Bayern Munich team news?
Bayern’s injury concerns remain centred around their speedy attacking options, with each of Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry sidelined and set to miss out. Centr-eback Dayot Upamecano is also out, but Alphonso Davies will return after being suspended for the second leg against Man City.
Thomas Tuchel will have to wait on the availability of Jamal Musiala, who will have a fitness test ahead of the game, as will Konrad Laimer and Matthijs de Ligt.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid latest updates
14:01 , Ben Fleming
When is Bayern vs Real Madrid?
The first leg kicks off at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday 30 April at 8pm BST (9pm CEST).
Where can I watch it?
As with all Uefa matches this term, the game will be broadcast by TNT Sports. It will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 and can be streamed via the discovery + app.
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Good afternoon
14:00 , Jamie Braidwood
The Champions League semi-finals start this week and the initial match-up of the first-leg encounters sees Bayern Munich host Real Madrid, a meeting of two of the three most successful clubs of all time in the European Cup.
It’s the Spanish side who lead the way by a distance, with 14 titles to their name, while Bayern have won six times in total and been to the final on 11 occasions overall – but face a big challenge now to make it a dozen, even if their European form has been considerably better than domestic matters this term.
From an England national team point of view, this is also an intriguing clash as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham will be on opposite sides, both having starred for their respective sides this term and set to spearhead the Three Lions’ attack at Euro 2024 this summer.
In Champions League terms, Bayern knocked out Arsenal in the quarters having seen off Lazio in the last 16; Real Madrid beat RB Leipzig in their first knockout tie before dispatching Manchester City on penalties in the quarters.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match and here are the Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid prediction and latest odds.
Is Bayern vs Real Madrid on TV tonight? Time, channel and how to watch
