A match that had almost everything would never leave Real Madrid with nothing. That’s just not how they do things in the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti’s side probably deserved to lose. They were definitely on the lower side. Their English star had a much more difficult evening than that of Bayern Munich.
And yet, it is of course the 14 times champions who leave a little more satisfied with a great European evening. Real Madrid draw 2-2 and now have the chance to win this semi-final in their own stadium.
It didn’t quite go as everyone hoped after Vinicius Junior’s opening goal, given Bayern Munich’s impressive recovery. And yet, the Germans – and even Harry Kane – will feel that they could have scored much more.
This subtle psychology could be crucial for the second leg as Bayern try to salvage their season and Madrid only look to improve theirs and their record. Even though Kane scored a penalty, it was not a night to improve Jude Bellingham’s reputation. He was substituted and had one of his most anonymous games for the club, ensuring that Ancelotti found him utterly useless. This might only annoy Bellingham more for the second leg. There is still work to do and a massive match to come.
It’s well balanced, even if it’s not quite as you’d imagine. It is, however, a theme.
Despite all the evidence we have from 14 European Cups and so many world-class players, like Vinicius Junior, it sometimes remains a mystery as to how modern Real Madrid have actually achieved this. They seem to leave a lot of things to pure chance, when they shouldn’t even need to.
There’s obviously intent and design here, given their recent successes, but does that really imply that the opposition steps into the box so often?
There was a period in the first half where Madrid had nine players back in their box, all waiting to pounce on any open space. It was like a super-luxe Sean Dyche Burnley.
Bayern had done an impressive job of fending them off, but the longer they went without scoring, the more it felt like what was coming. Dyche’s Burnley have never seen anyone like Toni Kroos and Vinicius do this.
Bayern themselves could have benefited from a little more defensive robustness. As good as Kroos and Vinicius were, the German was allowed to sneak into the middle and simply pass through the center. The relaxed nature of it was only highlighted by Vinicius’ speed, which was matched by Kim Min-jae who inexplicably thundered in defense. Vinicius simply had to roll the ball past Manuel Neuer.
It seemed like a vintage Real Madrid performance. They had done the usual number on their opponents, while showing that Thomas Tuchel didn’t have many matches left.
There was even the fact that Kroos and Vinicius exposed an area that has been problematic for Bayern all season. They have never properly covered this space in front of the defense, unless it is with massive ranks like against Arsenal.
But then Bayern did something most don’t do against Madrid. They went straight.
Part of this was itself directly influenced by a key change from Tuchel. He introduced Raphael Guerreiro in place of Leon Goretzka, and Real Madrid didn’t really know how to react to his move.
Suddenly there was a little more space for Bayern’s attackers, with Leroy Sane sprinting in and then smashing the ball past Andriy Lunin to score. It was as brilliant as it was brutal.
Perhaps there was an element of the Real Madrid backline that almost lit the teams on fire all this time, defending that aura. You don’t have to go around them repeatedly like Manchester City did – just attack them. It almost seemed proven four minutes later, when Jamal Musiala qualified in similar fashion.
Lucas Vazquez was apparently so confused by this that he committed an unnecessary foul, with Kane then kicking the penalty.
It was in the middle of two periods where Bayern could perhaps have put the game out of sight. They had enough chances. Kane almost finished a big one, flashing just wide. Before that, he was just a little too slow when put on goal.
He still had a better evening than Bellingham who had little effect on the game apart from two inaccurate Hollywood balls which he moaned at his teammates for not having reached, then a quick word with Kane before the penalty.
Whatever he said didn’t work. Ancelotti pulled Bellingham out.
Madrid still persevered. They still left with something. They always do it. With Kim having a bad game at the other end of the pitch, Rodrygo looked to expose him again. The defender was clumsy in a different way this time.
Madrid had a penalty. Vinicius had another objective. Madrid achieved another Champions League result that was better than their overall play indicated.
We’ve seen it so many times. Bayern and Kane must now seize the next match.
