Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel are two of the great minds of modern football.
Versatile and creative coaches, the Champions League-winning managers are among the most respected managers in the world. While they are at different stages of their careers, both have incredible experience at the elite level.
Ancelotti and Tuchel have clashed many times in the past in Germany, England and major European battles. They have also fought in the 2023/24 Champions League, with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich drawn in the semi-finals of the competition.
Meetings tend to be incredibly tough between teams coached by these touchline masters, but how do they compare?
The first meeting of these powerful minds came in Ancelotti’s debut at Bayern, and life started well 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 secure his first piece of silverware as Bayern head coach.
Their second duel would come three months later in the Bundesliga, with Tuchel winning the event. On his return to Dortmund from Bayern, Mario Gotze flicked a cross into the path of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who turned home 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 could not keep pace.
Fast forward to April and Bayern were back doing Bayern things, leading the Bundesliga with little competition and beating Dortmund in Der Klassiker at the Allianz Arena.
The victory moved Bayern within an inch of another Meisterschale and it was former Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski who proved the visitors’ kryptonite.
A superb free kick for the Pole added to a Franck Ribery strike in the fourth minute before Raphael Guerreiro reduced the deficit after 20 minutes. But Arjen Robben’s trademark and Lewandowski’s penalty helped the hosts become champions.
While Bayern had the last laugh in the league, Dortmund got sweet revenge in the semi-final of the DFB Pokal a few weeks later.
The visitors got off to a good start when Marco Reus latched on to Javi Martinez’s slick pass, but the Spaniard made amends by heading home at the other end shortly after. Mats Hummels, who had traded from Dortmund to Bayern, then put the hosts ahead before the break.
But Dortmund would rally in the second half and score quick-fire goals from Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele to guide Tuchel’s side to a huge victory on their way to lifting the 2016/17 DFB Pokal.
The next meeting between the coaches will come well away from Germany, with Tuchel in charge of Paris Saint-Germain and Ancelotti in charge of Napoli. The two teams have met each other in the group stage of the 2018/19 Champions League, the first leg of which will be played in the French capital.
A young Napoli side of Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens looked set to help the Italian side to a memorable victory, but Angel Di Maria produced a superb effort to equalize in the third minute of stoppage time.
Relegation to Champions League Group C also ended the season, a result that ultimately proved costly for Napoli’s progress. Juan Bernat had put PSG ahead in the first half, but Insigne’s penalty after the hour saw the spoils shared.
PSG will go into the group with little controversy, but Napoli exited the group stage after being beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on the final day – missing out on a place in the last 16 on goals scored.
It would be two-and-a-half years until Tuchel and Ancelotti would clash again, this time during the latter’s tumultuous spell as Everton manager.
Tuchel, who was in charge of Chelsea at the time, secured another victory over Ancelotti, with Ben Godfrey’s goal and Jorginho’s penalty proving the difference between the sides at an empty Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel was still at Chelsea when he clashed with Ancelotti again, but his managing partner is now on the phone at Real Madrid. The two would meet in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the first leg of which was played in west London.
In the first of two thrilling games, it was a Real inspired Karim Benzema who would deliver the first blow. Two headers from the Frenchman within three minutes would see the Spanish side take a one-goal lead at the break, with Kai Havertz pulling one back for the Blues.
But an unfortunate gaffe from Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy gave Benzema his hat-trick, giving Real the perfect opportunity to return to Madrid.
While Real secured their place in the semi-finals, they were almost undone by Chelsea’s stunning comeback. Goals from Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner put the Blues on the brink of progress, but a timely strike from Rodrygo sent the game into extra time.
However, it was Benzema who would once again be the difference, scoring the third header in both legs to put Real in the last four.
Epic meetings with Manchester City followed in the semis before Liverpool’s 1-0 victory in the final saw Madrid become European champions for the 14th time.
The 2023/24 Champions League has thrown the two coaches into battle again, with Tuchel now in charge of Ancelotti’s old employers Bayern. Their first leg of the quarter-final was a bitter battle that could not separate these European kings.
A fine effort from Vinicius Junior put Real ahead but quick strikes from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane gave Bayern the lead before the closing stages. However, Ancelotti’s side showed resilience and leveled with Vinicius Jr’s 83rd minute penalty.
Carlo Ancelotti vs Thomas Tuchel H2H record
Goals were scored
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