How many times have Real Madrid and Bayern reached the UCL semi-finals

We’re down to the final four in European soccer’s top club competition, with a genuine powerhouse clash at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

The Champions League returns this week with two fascinating matches in the semi-final stage of Europe’s top club competition. Paris Saint-Germain - Borussia Dortmund brings together two dynamic young teams, but it is the meeting of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid that really captures the attention.

Munich and Madrid, two of European soccer’s most dominant teams, meet at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday with a place in the Champions League final at stake. No two teams are as well-versed in latter-stage UCL action than Bayern Munich and Real Madrid; they are the teams with the most semi-final appearances, both in the Champions League and across the entire history of the European Cup.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering the frequency with which they make the final four of the competition, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are both among the most successful teams in European competition. Real Madrid have been crowned European champions a record 14 times. Meanwhile Bayern Munich have won it on six occasions, behind only Madrid and AC Milan (seven).

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Real Madrid’s European dominance has come across a few trophy-laden spells. The Spanish club won five consecutive titles in the 1950s; three in five years around the turn of the century; and then another five in nine years leading up to the 2021/22 triumph.

In the most recent period of dominance, Cristiano Ronaldo broke countless Champions League records for both goals and appearances. The Portuguese superstar has made the most appearances (187), scored the most goals (141) and contributed the most assists (42) in Champions League history.

His record in the latter stages of the competition is particularly impressive, having appeared in 21 Champions League semi-final matches. This is the record across both the UCL and European Cup eras of the competition. Ronaldo has scored 13 goals in semi-finals, far more than the tally of second-highest scorer and his former teammate Karim Benzema (eight).