Giovane Élber and his kiss of the knee in Madrid | OneFootball

It’s been 25 years since a 1-0 win away at Real Madrid set Bayern on their way into the Champions League final and earned Giovane Élber– and his knee – a place in history. Ahead of Tuesday’s quarter-final first leg at the Bernabéu, fcbayern.com looks back on that iconic moment. 

One chance taken

Élber himself called it a “miracle”. Just 12 days after a knee operation, few people expected the Brazilian to feature in such an important match in the semi-final first leg in Madrid. But the striker declared himself fit and would go on to be the hero in Spain, scoring the only goal of the night in the 55th minute. His knee withstood the pressure and was rewarded with a big kiss.

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The game at the Bernabéu turned into a real case of rearguard action by Bayern. Oliver Kahn repelled all that came his way, with Élber lurking up front. “We said before kick-off that we’ll get a chance, maybe two. We need to take them,” the Brazilian later revealed. And he was correct.

Casillas caught out

Élber also admitted afterwards that he didn’t even know where the goal was as he shot on the turn a good 20 metres out. A 20-year-old Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal was caught a bit too far off his line and surprised by the attempt as it struck the back of his net. Élber – and his knee – had set Bayern on the way to the Champions League final.

A look back at some famous Bayern nights at the Bernabéu:

Special nights at the Bernabéu