Bayern Munich against Real Madrid

When these two collide, the Champions League gets exciting. This does not refer to any individuals in particular, like Arjen Robben, but to both teams. Here is a look back at the classic matches between two sides with their own unique histories in the top European club tournament.

In the semi-finals of 2013-14, Real Madrid came out on top in the first leg. It was seen as counter-attack beating tiki-taka. Benzema fired in the only goal of the game, but will Real take a step further to La Decima by avoiding another crumble in Germany?

What a celebration! In the most recent clash, Bayern overcame Real Madrid in the semifinals of the 2012 Champions League and reached their target - the final "dahoam" ("at home" in the Bavarian dialect) in their own stadium. Bayern just squeezed through on penalties, with Bastian Schweinsteiger scoring the decisive spot kick.

On the road to defeat, the Spanish club's star Cristiano Ronaldo endured a rollercoaster. He went from hero to villain: the celebrated hero at the start with two strikes to give Real a 2-0 lead. But then, on penalties, he failed to convert against Manuel Neuer.

Neuer was key in the penalty shootout, just like his opponent Iker Casillas, who saved two shots. Against Ronaldo and the Brazilian Kaka, the Bayern keeper remained on top. Casillas saved the shots from Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm. In the end, Sergio Ramos blasted over the bar and missed, before Schweinsteiger converted.

In the quarterfinal duel between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the 2007 Champions League, most of the goalscorers came from Holland. Real's Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Bayern's Mark van Bommel score during the 3-2 home leg. In the return match, Roy Makaay produced his finest hour. He scored after only 10 seconds, leading his side to a 3-2 win and sending Bayern on to the final four.

Ten years ago, the Germans were knocked out by Real immediately after the group stages. Zinedine Zidane, today the sporting director of Real Madrid, ensured a 1-0 return leg win (2-1 on aggregate). The only bright spot for the Bavarians was the debut of a 19-year-old youngster named Bastian Schweinsteiger, who came on in the second half.

Bayern were given no chance in the quarterfinal second leg of 2002. Although they turned the game around with two late goals in the home leg, they had no chance in the Bernabeu. Real Madrid ran out 2-0 winners against the Bavarians, with Raul and co. going on to win it all.

A year before, the situation was much different. In 2001, Bayern went through against Real and went on to beat Valencia in the Champions League final. For the first time, they beat Real Madrid in both legs. Giovane Elber, Bayern's top scorer, scored in both legs to send his team to the final.

After Bayern dominated Real over two games in the group stages - winning 4-2 and 4-1 - Real Madrid rallied against the odds to win in a semifinal re-match in 2000. Real Madrid won 2-0 in the first leg, but then managed to net an away goal through Nicolas Anelka to reach the final. The 2-1 second leg scoreline was scant consolation for the Germans.

In the quarter-finals of the 1988 European Cup, Bayern looked certain winners after the first half of the first leg. Roland Wohlfahrt made it 3-0 after 45 minutes, which was preserved until the 88th minute when Real Madrid pulled back two late goals. The momentum suddenly shifted, Real Madrid won 2-0 in the return leg at the Bernabeu as Bayern dropped out.

Klaus Augenthaler might not look back on this 1987 tie with much fondness, but then all's well that ends well. In the semifinal second leg of the European Cup, he scored an own goal and was sent-off. Although Real won 1-0, Bayern already led 4-1 from the first leg in Munich and progressed to the final - where they lost to FC Porto.

The first European Cup match between Bayern and Real Madrid was in the 1976 semifinals. Gerd Müller scored all three of Bayern's goals in the 3-1 home win, netting in the 1-1 draw in Madrid too. Bayern beat Saint-Etienne in the final and clinched their third European Cup.