Madrid – Real Madrid welcomes FC Bayern Munich for the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals as Spanish football champions.
The team of German national players Toni Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger won their home game against FC Cadiz 3-0 (0-0). Since FC Girona then defeated FC Barcelona, previously second in the table, 4:2 (1:2), Real can no longer be pushed out of first place in the remaining four match days in the Primera División.
Kroos obviously followed the Barça game intensively that evening. The 34-year-old shared FC Girona’s post on X, formerly Twitter, about the last goal with his fans. The Real-affiliated Spanish newspaper “Marca” reported with a live video from the capital. Another video showed the Real professionals celebrating with loud shouts of “Campeones”. “We are the Champions! Hello Madrid! Well deserved – I love this club,” wrote Rüdiger on X.
Courtois celebrates comeback in the Real goal
Four days before the semi-final second leg in the premier class against Munich, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti had once again rested numerous regular players in the league, including Kroos and Rüdiger as well as Jude Bellingham, who was later substituted. The Belgian national goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made his comeback after a month-long break due to a torn cruciate ligament. Brahim Diaz (51st minute), ex-Dortmunder Bellingham (68th) and Joselu (90th + 3) scored the goals for Real
Ancelotti was quoted by Spanish media. “We are very happy, I think all our fans are very happy,” said the Italian. “We deserve it and we would like to celebrate with our fans, but I think the fans understand that we have our challenge on Wednesday – we have to prepare well.” The second leg against Bayern kicks off on Wednesday at 9 p.m.
Real now have 87 points as leaders. Girona is now second in the table with 74 points ahead of Barcelona (73). Barça was leading 2-1 at the break after goals from Andreas Christensen (3rd) and Robert Lewandowski (45th+1) as well as a goal from Artem Dovbyk (4th). In the second half, Portu (65th/75th) turned the game in favor of the hosts with a brace and Miguel Gutierrez (67th).