Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | Quarter-Final
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Two heavyweights of European football clash at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid begin their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich with home advantage.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – HBO Max / USA – DAZN & Paramount+
Real Madrid preview: Frustrated Los Blancos
Real Madrid returned from the March international break by failing to put the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga, as Los Blancos succumbed to a 2-1 loss to Real Mallorca in the Balearic Islands due to a Vedat Muriqi winner in second-half added time.
Alvaro Arbeloa had appeared to have discovered something that was working before the break with young players contributing to impressive victories, including a defeat of city rivals Atletico Madrid in their most recent outing a couple of weeks ago.
Bayern Munich preview: Impressive Bayern
Vincent Kompany is in charge of a Bayern Munich side that are romping their way to the Bundesliga title with the Bavarians sitting nine points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top-of-the-table, producing a remarkable victory at the weekend.
2-0 down as late as the 81st minute at the Europa-Park Stadion against Freiburg, a Tom Bischof brace brought Bayern level in second-half stoppage-time before fellow youngster Lennart Karl snatched a 3-2 win a 99th minute strike.
Real Madrid team news: 'Galacticos' are back
The so-called 'galacticos' have returned, such as Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, but that may be complicating things as Arbeloa had found some form wih a more simplified selection and plan.
First-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remains a key injury absentee alongside Rodrygo, who is unavailable for the rest of this season due to a knee injury.
Predicted XI (4-1-2-1-2): Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni; Valverde, Bellingham; Guler; Vinicius, Mbappe
Unavailable: Courtois (Injured), Mendy (Injured), Rodrygo (Injured)
Questionable: Ceballos (Injured)
Bayern Munich team news: Going strong
Quite surprisingly, given what the status appeared to be as they returned from the international break last week, Bayern appear to have more or less a fully fit and available squad.
That includes England captain Harry Kane, while key men such as Joshua Kimmich and Michael Olise have also returned from their suspension in the second-leg of their round of 16 defeat of Atalanta.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Gnabry, Diaz; Kane
Unavailable: Ulreich (Injured)
Questionable:
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich prediction
Real Madrid have endured a topsy turvy campaign. The middling and short reign of Xabi Alonso has given way to an inconsistent Arbeloa-led era, consisting of some truly excellent performances as well as defeats like the other day – and even worse, such as a Copa del Rey exit to Albacete. Bayern may not yet have passed a tough test, with a defeat to Arsenal in the league phase in their toughest game of the season thus far, but they just appear to be operating at a much higher level than Madrid right now and siding with them would be the way to go for this one.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich Tip: Bayern Munich to win
