Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich LIVE: Lineups and kickoff time of the 2026 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals first leg

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich face off in a massive clash for the 2026 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals first leg. Stay here for all the minute-by-minute updates of this heavyweight encounter!

Updated on April 07, 2026 02:26PM EDT

**© Getty Images**Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid and Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich.

The Santiago Bernabeu is set for a match of final-level magnitude as Real Madrid host Bayern Munich in the opening leg of the 2026 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.

Real Madrid enter this stage after a dominant performance against Manchester City, advancing with a commanding 5–1 aggregate score. On the other side, Bayern Munich arrived in Madrid in terrifying form, having dismantled Atalanta with a staggering 10–2 aggregate victory in the Round of 16.

However, the hosts face a significant setback for this crucial fixture. Thibaut Courtois has been ruled out after sustaining a muscle injury in his right quadriceps. As a result, Andriy Lunin will once again step into the spotlight to guard the Bernabeu goal against the German giants.

02:25PM

Why is Jude Bellingham not starting for Madrid?

Jude Bellingham won't start for Real Madrid as he recently recovered from a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg and the coaching staff continue managing his workload carefully.

02:15PM

Both teams doing warm up activities

Players for both sides have taken the field for warmups at the Santiago Bernabeu!

02:10PM

Today's referees

Michael Oliver has been appointed to officiate the clash between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. He will be joined on the field by Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring, who are set to serve as the assistant referees.

Full officiating team:

Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring (ENG)
Fourth official: Andrew Madley (ENG)
VAR: Jarred Gillett (ENG)

01:50PM

Bayern Munich lineup confirmed!

Bayern's starting XI: Manuel Neuer; Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Josip Stanisic; Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic; Luis Diaz, Serge Gnabry, Michael Olise; Harry Kane.

💫🔴⚪ 𝐅𝐂 𝐁𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐗𝐈 vs. 𝑅𝐸𝐴𝐿 𝑀𝐴𝐷𝑅𝐼𝐷 👊 pic.twitter.com/QpTMB81CZB
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) April 7, 2026

01:40PM

Real Madrid lineup confirmed!

Real Madrid's starting XI: Andriy Lunin; Trent-Alexander Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rudiger, Alvaro Carreras; Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch, Arda Guler; Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.

📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
🆚 @FCBayernES pic.twitter.com/qajqym4pGM
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 7, 2026

01:20PM

Kickoff time and where to watch

Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich will get underway at the Santiago Bernabeu at 3:00 PM (ET).

DAZN will be the primary option to watch Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich in the USA. The others options to enjoy the game are: Paramount+, DirecTV Stream, Univision, TUDN and ViX.

01:00PM

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich clash in the 2026 UEFA Champions League!

Welcome to our live blog of the UEFA Champions League, where Real Madrid host Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals!

Stay with us for all the action and minute-by-minute updates of this exciting game!

Gianni Taina

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist, fluent in English and Spanish, with a specialization in soccer, NBA, and tennis. He began his professional career in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US, where he first established himself as a writer. Throughout his career, Gianni has covered major sports events such as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tournaments like the French Open. His ability to report on real-time events and perform well under pressure has made him a valuable member of a top-tier team of journalists. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, bringing his expertise in soccer, NBA, and tennis to deliver original content while providing live coverage of important events.