By Ewan Murray
Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel are two of the great minds of modern football.
Tactically flexible and pragmatic coaches, the pair of Champions League-winning bosses are among the most respected managers on the planet. While at different stages of their careers, both have incredible expeirence at the elite level.
Ancelotti and Tuchel have clashed on plenty of occasions in the past in Germany, England and huge European battles. They have done battle in the 2023/24 Champions League as well, with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich drawn against one another in the semi-final of the competition.
Meetings tend to be incredibly tight between sides coached by these kings of the touchline, but how have they fared against each other overall?
1. Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Bayern Munich (14/08/16)
The first meeting of these powerful minds came in Ancelotti's debut in charge of Bayern, and life got off to a great start for the Italian as he guided his new club to the DFL Supercup in Der Klassiker.
Second-half strikes from Arturo Vidal and Thomas Muller helped Ancelotti to his first piece of silverware as Bayern head coach.
2. Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Bayern Munich (19/11/16)
Their second duel would come just three months later in the Bundesliga, with Tuchel triumphing on this occasion. On his return to Dortmund from Bayern, Mario Gotze slid a cross into the path of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who turned home for the only goal of the game after 11 minutes.
The result saw Dortmund close the gap on Bayern and RB Leipzig ahead of them, but Tuchel's men were unable to stay the course.
3. Bayern Munich 4-1 Borussia Dortmund (08/04/17)
Fast forward to April and Bayern were back doing Bayern things, leading the Bundesliga with little competition and hammering Dortmund in Der Klassiker at the Allianz Arena.
The victory moved Bayern within an inch of yet another Meisterschale and it was former Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski that proved the visitors' kryptonite.
The Pole's excellent free kick added to Franck Ribery's fourth-minute strike before Raphael Guerreiro reduced the deficit with 20 minutes gone. But a trademark Arjen Robben strike and a Lewandowski penalty helped the hosts towards becoming champions.
4. Bayern Munich 2-3 Borussia Dortmund (26/04/17)
While Bayern had the last laugh in the league, Dortmund got some sweet revenge in the DFB Pokal semi-final several weeks later.
The visitors had got off to the perfect start when Marco Reus eventually capitalised on Javi Martinez's sloppy back-pass, but the Spaniard made amends by heading home at the other end shortly afterwards. Mats Hummels, who had traded Dortmund for Bayern, then put the hosts ahead before the break.
But Dortmund would rally in the second half and quickfire goals from Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele would guide Tuchel's side to a huge victory en route to lifting the 2016/17 DFB Pokal.
5. Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Napoli (24/10/2018)
The following meeting between the coaches would come well away from Germany, with Tuchel now in charge of Paris Saint-Germain and Ancelotti leading Napoli. The two sides clashed in the 2018/19 Champions League group stage, with the first of two matches coming in the French capital.
The diminutive Napoli duo of Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens looked to have helped the Italian side claim a memorable victory, but Angel Di Maria produced a sublime curled effort to level proceedings in the third minute of stoppage time.
6. Napoli 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain (06/11/18)
The reverse fixture in Champions League Group C also ended all square, a result that ultimately proved costly to Napoli's progression. Juan Bernat had put PSG ahead in first-half stoppage time, but Insigne's penalty after an hour saw the spoils shared.
PSG would qualify top of the group with little fuss, but Napoli crashed out at the group stage after being beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on the final day - losing out on a place in the last 16 on goals scored.
7. Chelsea 2-0 Everton (08/03/2021)
It would be two-and-a-half years until Tuchel and Ancelotti would clash again, this time during the slightly bizarre period in which the latter was the manager of Everton.
Tuchel, who was in charge of Chelsea at the time, secured another victory over Ancelotti, with a Ben Godfrey own goal and Jorginho penalty proving the difference between the sides in an empty Stamford Bridge.
8. Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid (06/04/22)
Tuchel was still at Chelsea by the time he next clashed with Ancelotti, but his managerial counterpart was now residing on the Real Madrid touchline. The pair would meet in the Champions League quarter-final, with the first leg played in west London.
In what was the first of two enthralling encounters, it was a Karim Benzema-inspired Real who would deliver the opening blow. Two headers from the Frenchman within three minutes would see the Spanish side earn a one-goal lead at the break, with Kai Havertz having pulled one back for the Blues.
But a dismal gaffe from Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy handed Benzema his hat-trick, giving Real a huge advantage to take back to Madrid.
9. Real Madrid 2-3 Chelsea (12/04/22)
While Real did earn their spot in the semi-final, they were almost undone by an epic Chelsea comeback. Goals from Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner put the Blues on the brink of progression, but a timely strike from Rodrygo sent the game to extra-time.
However, it was Benzema who would once again be the difference-maker, scoring a third header across the two legs to book Real's spot in the final four.
Epic meetings with Manchester City followed in the semis before a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the final made Madrid European champions for the 14th time.
10. Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid (30/04/24)
The 2023/24 Champions League threw these two coaches into battle once more, with Tuchel now in charge of Ancelotti's old employers Bayern. Their quarter-final first leg was a bruising battle and one that couldn't separate these European kings.
Vinicius Junior's excellent effort put Real in front but quick fire strikes from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane offered Bayern the lead heading into the closing stages. However, Ancelotti's side showcased their characteristic resilience and found a leveller through an 83rd minute penalty from Vinicius Jr.
Carlo Ancelotti vs Thomas Tuchel H2H record
- Carlo Ancelotti: 3 wins
- Thomas Tuchel: 4 wins
- Draws: 3
Goals scored
- Teams managed by Ancelotti: 16
- Teams managed by Tuchel: 18
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This article was originally published on 90min.com as Carlo Ancelotti vs Thomas Tuchel: Complete head-to-head record.
