CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Champions League history on Real Madrid’s side after first leg draws
‘Los Blancos’ have advanced in eight out out of the ten times a first leg knockout game has ended in a draw since the introduction of the Champions League.
Real Madrid have grounds to be optimistic ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg in Manchester. Following the inception of the Champions League in the 1992/92 season, (replacing the former European Cup) ‘Los Blancos’ have advanced in the competition in eight out of the ten first leg games that ended in a draw. An impressive 80% success rate.
Despite the most recent precedent being negative in the 2020-2021 season where Madrid fell to Chelsea (2-0) after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Di Stéfano, the only other second leg slip-up came in the 1998-99 quarterfinals, when Madrid drew at home (1-1) with Dinamo Kyiv and then lost 2-0 in the Ukrainian capital.
UCL games that saw Real Madrid advance after first leg draw
Champions League
| Season | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | |
| 2020-2021 | Semifinals | RM-Chelsea | 1-1 | 0-2 | |
| 2015-2016 | Semifinals | Man. City-RM | 0-0 | 0-1 | >>> |
| 2014-2015 | Quarters | Atlético-RM | 0-0 | 0-1 | >>> |
| 2012-2013 | R16 | RM-Man. United | 1-1 | 2-1 | >>> |
| 2011-2012 | Quarters | CSKA Moscú-RM | 1-1 | 1-4 | >>> |
| 2010-2011 | R16 | Lyon-RM | 1-1 | 0-3 | >>> |
| 2003-2004 | Quarters | Bayern-RM | 1-1 | 0-1 | >>> |
| 1999-2000 | Quarters | RM-Man. United | 0-0 | 3-2 | >>> |
| 1998-1999 | Quarters | RM-Dinamo Kiev | 1-1 | 0-2 | |
| 1997-1998 | Quarters | Leverkusen-RM | 1-1 | 0-3 | >>> |
Adding the ‘Champions era’ to the old European Cup, Real Madrid have progressed in 16 of the 25 ties of the competition when they drew the first leg.
Manchester rivals
On three times during the Champions League era, Madrid have been pitted against rivals from Manchester and on all three times (2015/16 vs City, 2012/23 vs United and 1999/2000 again facing the Red Devils, the side from the Santiago Bernabeu advanced to the next stage of the tournament.