Real Madrid must solve 56-year problem in Munich after Bayern loss

Real Madrid face a challenge they have not overcome in more than half a century. Álvaro Arbeloa’s side fell 2-1 to Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday in an open, high-tempo Champions League quarterfinal first leg between two of Europe’s most decorated clubs. The result leaves the Spanish giants with serious work to do in the return leg in Germany, where history suggests the odds are heavily stacked against them.

Have Real Madrid ever won a European tie after losing the first leg at home?

Real Madrid have not lost the first leg of a European knockout tie at home and still gone on to advance since the 1970-71 season. That’s right, to find the last time it happened, you have to go back more than 55 years.

In October 1970, Los Blancos were beaten 1-0 at the Bernabéu by Austrian side Wacker Innsbruck in the second round of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Madrid responded with a 2-0 win away from home to turn the tie around and reach the quarterfinals.

They would eventually go on to reach the final, where they lost to Chelsea.

Both Wacker Innsbruck and the Cup Winners’ Cup competition no longer exist, which only underscores just how distant that precedent feels ahead of next week’s second leg in Munich.

A rare challenge for Real Madrid in Europe

Of course, part of the reason for that long gap is simple: Real Madrid rarely lose European knockout first legs at home.

Since that defeat to Wacker Innsbruck in 1970, Madrid have only been beaten six times in the first leg of a European tie at the Bernabéu. On each occasion, they have failed to recover in the return leg.

Those defeats came in the following ties:

Cup Winners’ Cup

• 1993-94 quarterfinal: Real Madrid 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG advanced 2-1 on aggregate)

Champions League

• 2000-01 semifinal: Real Madrid 0-1 Bayern Munich (Bayern advanced 3-1 on aggregate)
• 2005-06 round of 16: Real Madrid 0-1 Arsenal (Arsenal advanced 1-0 on aggregate)
• 2008-09 round of 16: Real Madrid 0-1 Liverpool (Liverpool advanced 5-0 on aggregate)
• 2010-11 round of 16: Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona (Barcelona advanced 3-1 on aggregate)
• 2019-20 round of 16: Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City (Manchester City advanced 4-2 on aggregate)

A familiar mountain in Munich

Now, Real Madrid must try to snap a 56-year trend against a Bayern Munich side that has its own recent defensive benchmark. The German champions have not lost by a two-goal margin at home since March 2024.

The LaLiga giants may have a mountain to climb in the second leg, but that is exactly the kind of stage where Real Madrid have built their reputation, especially in the Champions League.

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