Bayern vs Real Madrid preview: Team news, form guide and predictions
By Luke Oluoch, April 15, 2026Real Madrid is faced with overturning a 2-1 first-leg disadvantage when they travel to Germany’s Allianz Arena this Wednesday, April 15, 2026, for the UCL quarter-final return leg tie.
Luis Diaz and Harry Kane scored in either half to hand Bayern a slender first-leg victory over Real Madrid and ended their nine-game winless run against the Spanish giants (L7 D2).
Kylian Mbappe scored a late equaliser to keep the contest alive.
The Rojiblancos head into the clash having seen their hopes for the domestic league suffer a dent from the draw at home to Girona on Friday, April 10, 2026.
The result left the team nine points adrift of leaders Barcelona, who are now closing in on a La Liga title with only seven games to play.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side will, however, be emboldened by a decent record against the Bavarians.
Real had ground out a remarkable run of three consecutive wins in Munich, their first in the Germans’ home stadium, from 2014 to 2018.
The reigning German top-flight champions moved 12 points in the Bundesliga and are also looking at a newfound fortress at the Allianz, where they have won all their five European home games this season, averaging 3.2 goals in those games.
Injury news
Winger Lennart Karl (thigh) and goalkeeper Sven Ulreich (muscle) are the only confirmed sidelined players for Vincent Kompany’s team.
The Germans will welcome back Harry Kane, unused in the weekend’s league match, as well as Jonathan Tah, Dayot Upamecano, and Josip Stanisic, all rested ahead of the clash.
As for Real Madrid, Thibaut Courtois (thigh) and Rodrygo (ACL) remain sidelined through injury, while Aurelien Tchoaumeni picked up a third caution in last week’s first leg, rendering him suspended for Wednesday’s match.
Mbappe, the Champions League’s top scorer this term with 14 goals in just 10 games, a feat that sees him chase the single-season scoring record of 17, is also a doubt for the second leg after sustaining a facial injury in the latter stages of the draw with Girona.
Bayern Munich probable lineup
Neuer, Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Olise, Gnabry, Diaz, and Kane
Real Madrid:
Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Guler; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr