Real Madrid take on Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals this evening, as the Spanish giant’s pursuit of successive European triumphs continues.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were crowned European champions for a record-extending 14th time last season, following a run which saw Los Blancos eliminate three English sides.
Real Madrid will again look to end the challenge of a Premier League club in Europe, when Pep Guardiola’s treble-chasing Manchester City side arrive at the Bernabeu.
Ahead of a huge clash, we’ve looked back at six of Real Madrid’s most memorable Champions League wins against English clubs.
Manchester United 2-3 Real Madrid (2000)
Real Madrid ended Manchester United’s defence of the Champions League after a performance of exciting attacking football at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side started as favourites after a goalless first leg in the Spanish capital, but the Red Devils – treble winners the previous season – were undone in the return. An early own goal from Roy Keane put the visitors ahead at half-time, before two goals in quick succession from Raul saw Real Madrid race into a three-goal lead.
The Spanish striker’s second came after a mesmerising piece of skill from Fernando Redondo in the build-up, as the midfielder bamboozled Henning Berg with a back-heeled flick before squaring for Raul to tap home from close range.
⚪️ Sensational skill from Redondo before setting up Raúl González at Old Trafford ????@realmadriden | #UCL https://t.co/q97CvbLgh3 pic.twitter.com/p4tocdawiK
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 13, 2020
David Beckham’s individual effort pulled one back for Manchester United, before Paul Scholes’ strike added respectability to the scoreline for the holders. This, however, was Real Madrid’s night as Los Blancos reached the final four on route to an eighth European crown.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester United (2003)
Real Madrid and Manchester United renewed rivalries once again three seasons later, as the two teams went head-to-head in the quarter-finals.
The Spanish giants had won a record-extending ninth European title the previous season courtesy of Zinedine Zidane’s brilliance in the final, and the French magician was at his magnificent best as the Galacticos taught Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a lesson.
Luis Figo opened the scoring with a brilliant curling effort after combining with Zidane, before Raul doubled the host’s advantage before the break. Raul scored his second just four minutes after the restart to put Real Madrid in control, with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s response for Manchester United the one blemish on an otherwise impressive performance.
???? #OTD in 2003…
Luís Figo golazo ⚽️@LuisFigo | #UCL pic.twitter.com/E4iGrs2tPB— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 8, 2022
The return leg proved an all-time classic at Old Trafford, as Real Madrid progressed despite losing a seven-goal thriller on the night.
Ronaldo scored a sensational hat-trick for Real Madrid, with the Brazilian’s brilliance recognised with a standing ovation from the Manchester United crowd upon his substitution.
Iconic Performances: When R9 destroyed Man United and got clapped off at Old Trafford
Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool (2018)
Real Madrid met Liverpool in the 2018 final, the first time the Spaniards had faced English opposition in a final during the Champions League era.
Gareth Bale was the hero of the hour for Real Madrid after the Welsh winger came off the bench to score a brilliant brace in Kyiv. Zinedine Zidane’s side were given a helping hand, quite literally, from Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, who endured a nightmare individual performance.
The German goalkeeper made an inexplicable error as he rolled the ball against Karim Benzema for the opening goal of the game and was at fault again for Real Madrid’s third, after allowing Bale’s long-range effort to squirm from his grasp.
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⚽️ Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool
????️ Olimpiyskiy Stadium#UCLdecade pic.twitter.com/BuicsImKqQ— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 30, 2019
Liverpool had earlier equalised through Sadio Mane, but Bale’s first goal of the game – an audacious overhead kick just minutes after his introduction from the bench – was the defining and decisive moment of the final.
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City (2022)
Real Madrid produced one of the most remarkable Champions League comebacks of all time after rescuing their semi-final tie against Manchester City in dramatic fashion.
The Spanish side were two goals down on aggregate heading into the 90th minute of the return leg, after Riyad Mahrez had added to Manchester City’s 4-3 advantage from the first meeting.
Then came 90 seconds of compelling Champions League action as substitute Rodrygo scored twice in stoppage-time to force extra-time.
The Brazilian’s first goal had been Real Madrid’s very first shot on target and he added a second just moments later after heading in from Dani Carvajal’s cross to stun City.
Pep Guardiola’s side were unable to recover from an astonishing setback late on and Karim Benzema struck a winner in the added period to send Real Madrid through.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side had enjoyed a rollercoaster ride to reach the final, though no clash was quite as captivating as their comeback against City.
Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool (2022)
Having eliminated Chelsea and Manchester City in the earlier rounds to reach the final, Real Madrid took on Liverpool in a rematch of the 2018 decider.
Vinicius Junior’s second-half goal gave Real Madrid a 1-0 win in Paris, as the Spaniards rode their luck to claim a 14th European crown. The Brazilian’s goal came after fine work from Fede Valverde, with Vinicius arriving unmarked at the back post to turn in the midfielder’s cross.
Thibaut Courtois was in inspired form for Real Madrid, as the Belgian goalkeeper made nine saves – a record in a Champions League final since the data was first collected in 2004 – at the Stade de France.
THAT Thibaut Courtois display ????@thibautcourtois || #UCL pic.twitter.com/83e5N9spSV
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 20, 2023
Madrid’s win also saw Carlo Ancelotti become the first coach in history to win the Champions League on four occasions, surpassing Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane for the most managerial wins in the competition.
Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid (2023)
If the previous season’s final had been a close contest, the 2022/23 rematch between Liverpool and Real Madrid proved a one-sided affair.
Liverpool had made a dream start to the last-16 tie after racing into a two-goal lead on Merseyside, as goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah put Jurgen Klopp’s side ahead.
Teams have often wilted under the pressure of a fast Liverpool start at Anfield, but Real Madrid demonstrated just why Los Blancos boast a Champions League pedigree that no side can match.
The holders maintained their cool and composure to get back into the game, with the excellent Vinicius Junior scoring a brace to level the score before half-time.
Eder Militao headed home a third just two minutes into the second half, before Karim Benzema’s brace saw Real Madrid become the first away side to score five goals at Anfield in a European game.
No away side previously had even scored four goals at Liverpool, while the last time the Reds had conceded five in a European fixture was away at Ajax in 1966.
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