It’s about time — Bayern Munich exec says team is out to change Champions League trend vs. Real Madrid

Bayern Munich’s hierarchy has issued a defiant message ahead of their upcoming Champions League showdown with Real Madrid, declaring that the club is determined to overturn a recent European narrative that has seen Los Blancos come out on top far too often. Speaking after the Bavarians’ comfortable victory over Atalanta, a senior Bayern executive told Bavarian Football Works, “It’s about time,” underscoring the urgency the club feels to rewrite its continental story against the Spanish giants.

The comments come as Bayern prepare to host Madrid on April 8, 2026, in the first leg of a tie that has already captured the imagination of fans across Europe. While the executive did not dwell on past results, the implication was clear: Bayern view this quarter-final clash as an opportunity to exorcise recent demons and reassert themselves among Europe’s elite.

Harry Kane, whose hat-trick against Atalanta propelled Bayern into the last eight, echoed the bullish mood inside the camp. “We fear no one,” the England captain said in post-match interviews. The striker’s confidence reflects a squad buoyed by momentum and eager to test themselves against the competition’s most decorated side.

Bayern’s boss, meanwhile, brushed aside suggestions that he favored drawing either Real Madrid or Manchester City, insisting the focus remained solely on preparing for whichever opponent fate delivered. That pragmatic stance has now shifted to meticulous planning for Carlo Ancelotti’s visitors, with tactical drills and set-piece work reportedly intensified at Sabener Strasse.

Across the continent, pundits continue to debate the tie’s outcome. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has already labeled Bayern his “dark horse” to lift the trophy this season, praising the squad’s blend of experience and youthful exuberance. With the first leg set to kick off at Allianz Arena, the stage is set for a seismic encounter that could either extend Madrid’s recent dominance over the German champions or signal a new chapter in Bayern’s European ambitions.