Eighteen-year-old Lennart Karl has boldly declared Bayern Munich "invincible" as the team prepares to face Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. This confident assertion follows Bayern's recent dramatic comeback victory in the Bundesliga, a result Karl believes has instilled immense self-belief within the squad.

The foundation for this newfound confidence was laid in their Bundesliga match against Freiburg on 4/4. Bayern trailed 0-2 until the 81st minute, but secured a 3-2 win thanks to explosive moments from two young talents. Twenty-year-old defender Tom Bischof scored two long-range goals to equalize, before Karl netted the decisive goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time. This thrilling comeback occurred just three days before Bayern's crucial away game at Real's Bernabeu stadium.

"This victory brings a lot of confidence", Karl stated after the match. "It is very important. We truly feel Bayern is invincible". Bayern vice-captain Joshua Kimmich echoed the young player's sentiment, emphasizing that such confidence is crucial for an 18-year-old like Karl, especially when preparing to confront Real.

Karl celebrates the decisive goal in the Freiburg 2-3 Bayern match on 4/4 in the 28th round of the Bundesliga. *Photo: DPA*

The team's domestic form also supports this optimism. Bayern currently leads the Bundesliga with 73 points, holding a 9-point advantage over second-place Dortmund with 6 rounds remaining. Furthermore, Karl and his teammates have scored 100 goals in 28 rounds, putting them in a strong position to break the club's record of 101 goals from the 1971-1972 season.

In contrast, Real Madrid has faced recent setbacks. In round 30 of La Liga, Real suffered a 1-2 loss to Mallorca in the final minute. The Bernabeu side is currently second with 69 points, seven points behind Barca with eight rounds left. Prior to this, they lost 2-3 to Barca in the Spanish Super Cup final and 2-3 to Albacete in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.

Historically, Real has a slight edge in European competitions against Bayern, with 13 wins, 4 draws, and 11 losses. Bayern last eliminated Real in the Champions League in the 2011-2012 season, winning 3-1 on penalties. However, in their four subsequent encounters across the 2013-2014, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2023-2024 seasons, Real advanced and ultimately won the title each time.

The two quarter-final matches between Bayern and Real are scheduled for 7/4 and 15/4. The winner of this tie will advance to the semi-finals to face the victor of the Liverpool - PSG clash. The two remaining quarter-final ties in the other bracket feature Barca - Atletico and Sporting - Arsenal.

Karl has emerged as a key discovery for Bayern this season. The 18-year-old right winger has contributed 9 goals and 7 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions. He broke Kylian Mbappe's record for the youngest player to score in three consecutive Champions League matches, earning a call-up to the Germany national team and a potential spot in the World Cup squad. Despite his current success at Bayern, Karl openly admitted in a previous interview his admiration for Real and expressed a desire to play for them in the future.

Thanh Quy (according to Bild)