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The UEFA Champions League semifinals will begin on Tuesday with the Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid thriller.
Bayern Munich will host record holders Real Madrid in the 1st leg of the semifinal at the Allianz Arena as the German team want to end their long drought against the Whites.
This season, Thomas Tuchel's Bayern Munich upset their fans as they lost the 2024 German Bundesliga title to Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen in previous weeks, a rare habit for Bayern. Leverkusen won their first-ever Bundesliga title to end Bayern's 11-year grip on it.
Tuchel was confirmed to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season but their Champions League title hopes are still alive.
Bayern Munich won the Champions League six times with their last triumph in 2020. Real Madrid won Europe's top-tier title for 14 times, the most recent in 2022.
The sides did not meet every season in Champions League but Bayern last eliminated Real Madrid to reach the 2012 final. But England's Chelsea won the 2012 title on penalties against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
In head-to-head comparison, Real Madrid, who were led by Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo at that time, have beaten Bayern in the Champions League knockout ties since 2014.
Real Madrid were unbeaten in their last seven matches against Bayern (six wins, one draw).
Tuesday's Bayern vs. Real Madrid clash will begin at 1900GMT.
The second leg will be played in Madrid on May 8. (Anadolu Agency)
