Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich: Mbappé’s Return and Match Preview
- Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will face each other on April 7, 2026, at the Estadio Bernabéu for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
- Real Madrid enters the tie following a setback in domestic league play.
- This result leaves Real Madrid seven points behind league leaders Barcelona.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will face each other on April 7, 2026, at the Estadio Bernabéu for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. The match, scheduled for 19:00 UTC, marks the 29th meeting between the two clubs, the most-played fixture in the history of the competition.
Real Madrid enters the tie following a setback in domestic league play. On April 5, 2026, the club suffered a 2-1 defeat away to RCD Mallorca in La Liga. Manu Morlanes opened the scoring for Mallorca in the 42nd minute and while Eder Militao equalized in the 88th minute by heading in a corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Vedat Muriqi scored the winner for the home side on a late counterattack.
This result leaves Real Madrid seven points behind league leaders Barcelona. Despite the domestic struggle, Los Blancos maintain strong momentum in Europe after defeating Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate during the round of 16.
Bayern Munich Form and Momentum
Bayern Munich arrives in Madrid maintaining a nine-point lead over Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga. In their most recent league fixture on April 5, 2026, the Bavarians secured a 3-2 victory over SC Freiburg. After falling behind 2-0, Bayern completed a comeback sparked by the second-half introductions of Michael Olise, Aleksandar Pavlović, and Jamal Musiala.
The German side’s confidence is further bolstered by a dominant performance in the previous Champions League round, where they eliminated Atalanta BC with a 10-2 aggregate score.
Squad Availability and Injuries
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa faces several personnel challenges. Thibaut Courtois is sidelined with a thigh injury and is not expected back until late April 2026, meaning Andriy Lunin is expected to start in goal. Rodrygo remains unavailable due to a cruciate ligament injury that will keep him out until mid-December 2026.
There are additional fitness concerns regarding Jude Bellingham. If he is deemed unfit to start, reports suggest either Eduardo Camavinga or Thiago Pitarch could feature in midfield alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni. Other absences for Madrid include Wisdom Mike and Cassiano Kiala, both of whom are out for the season, while Dani Ceballos remains doubtful with a thigh injury.
Bayern Munich’s primary concern is star striker Harry Kane, who missed the match against Freiburg due to an ankle injury sustained during the international break. Sven Ulreich is out with a muscle injury, and David Santos is sidelined with a thigh injury until late April 2026.
Managerial and Player Perspectives
Álvaro Arbeloa has emphasized the need for maximum performance to overcome the visiting side, urging his players to be the best team in the world
to secure a result in the first leg.
Within the Bayern camp, belief remains high. Following his two goals against Freiburg, Tom Bischof stated he is sure
that Bayern can defeat Madrid. Full-back Josip Stanišić echoed this sentiment, claiming the squad possesses 110 percent confidence
heading into the clash.
Historical Context
Historically, Real Madrid has held a slight advantage in this fixture. In the 28 previous meetings between the two clubs, Madrid has recorded 13 wins and 11 losses. Real Madrid is currently unbeaten in its last nine competitive matches against Bayern Munich, consisting of seven victories and two draws.
The match will be officiated by referee Michael Oliver.