As Bayern Munich get ready to play longtime rivals Real Madrid in the second leg of their quarterfinal on Wednesday, seasoned goalkeeper Manuel Neuer told the media that “it’s our turn” to win the Champions League.
Bayern lead by one goal after winning 2-1 at the Bernabéu in last week’s first leg. However, Kylian Mbappé’s goal in the second half gave the visitors a realistic chance to go to the final four when they travel to Bavaria.
If it weren’t for the heroics of the 40-year-old Neuer, who made nine saves that evening, Madrid might have scored more in the first encounter.
According to Sports Illustrated, Neuer expressed optimism about his team’s chances of advancing to the semifinals during the pre-match press conference held prior to Wednesday night’s match.
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“I think it’s our turn,” he said to reporters when talking about Bayern’s progress this season and their potential to win the biggest prize in Europe on May 30 in Budapest. However, several numbers contradict that assurance.
The Bayern captain, who has won the Champions League twice in his illustrious career, has met Real Madrid nine times in 14 years.
Neuer’s Battle With Real Madrid
In the 2011–12 semifinals, he was crucial to the Germans’ victory over Madrid; the match ended 3–3 on aggregate and went all the way to penalties.
Before Sergio Ramos missed the game-winning penalty kick, Neuer made saves against Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.
However, Neuer’s experience facing Madrid has changed since 2012.
In the following four Champions League knockout stage encounters, Madrid advanced each time while Bayern were eliminated (in 2013–14, 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2023–24). With the exception of 2017–18, when he was out due to injury, Neuer was in goal for every one of those games.
The most intriguing thing about Neuer’s career is that he has never kept a clean sheet against Madrid. He has conceded 19 goals in nine encounters, averaging slightly more than two goals per contest.
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