Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern: a hopeful ending to a frustrating night

It was easy to assume the worst and be right. Bayern did not pull Madrid out of their reality; instead, they plunged them back into it. Kompany’s side were Bavarian and barbarian, far superior in their play, though not as dominant in chance creation.

Arbeloa’s team played worse for long stretches, yet they still managed to turn Neuer into a hero in one of those finales that make the Bernabéu magical. It came after a 0-2 deficit that had pushed them to the brink of elimination. Militão and Bellingham came on, Mbappé finally scored, and the storm broke. This time, however, it was not enough. Madrid left the match worse than they had entered it, but they will travel to the second leg with at least a few options. This time, the miracle must happen 2,000 kilometres from home. Once again, the plea is the same: why not?

Bellingham, two years ago the powerful prow of Real Madrid, now resembles a stowaway. In one of the matches he was expected to start, Arbeloa left him on the bench, though it is still unclear whether that decision was due to poor form or simply his uncertain role. An amphibious player, somewhere between a false nine and a true number ten, no one has yet managed to turn him into the playmaker the team needs most right now.

Four midfielders had secured the manager’s passage to the quarter-finals against City, and he deployed the same quartet against Bayern, a team with what appeared to be a wasp-like midfield: two central midfielders with four forwards ahead of them. Bavarian pride could hardly allow anything less. Even with this supposed disadvantage, they quickly took control of the match.

Another notable detail before kickoff was Arbeloa’s nod to the transfer market: all three defenders signed in the summer, Trent, Huijsen and Carreras, were in the starting eleven. He still does not see Militão as a full-time starter, while Fran García, who had made a strong case for the position, remained on the bench.

The start was worse than expected for Real Madrid, who were pinned back in their own half and at times even inside their own penalty area by a formidable Bayern Munich side. It was all very German: long-range shots, one of their trademarks; a constant threat from corners (Kimmich nearly scored directly from one); suffocating high pressure that left opponents breathless; and a relentless pace.

They also created clear chances, especially one for Upamecano who, from two metres out with Lunin out of position, managed only a weak shot that Huijsen narrowly cleared. Olise, meanwhile, won the individual duels almost at will, effortlessly exploiting the Madrid defence and giving Carreras a very unpleasant night, far removed from the form he showed at the start of the season.

That is the noble side of Bayern, who have not lost their irritating habit of steamrolling opponents over the past five decades. They remain the most German of German teams, in the broadest and most 1970s sense of the term.

The other side of the team was less impressive: an occasionally eccentric Neuer, full-backs who were more effective in the first leg than in the second, and two centre-backs lacking pace. When Madrid finally managed to break out of their defensive shell, they found that weak point.

Mbappé, from a pass by Güler, fired from a tight angle straight at the German goalkeeper, and Vinícius also failed to find the open angle with a low shot across goal. Two flashes from a team under pressure that tried everything, from dropping Arda Güler deeper to open passing lanes to moving Valverde, their all-purpose player, all across midfield. On one of his surges, he put Mbappé one-on-one with Neuer, who produced a fine save from the Frenchman’s low shot across goal.

This came while Madrid were still recovering from a major scare: Lunin had just denied Gnabry a certain goal after a glaring error by Thiago Pitarch. The academy player had perhaps been overconfident, having previously won over the fans with his tireless efforts chasing German defenders. It is not easy to play or even appreciate football without the ball.

The game and the overall control belonged overwhelmingly to Bayern, but the chances and danger were surprisingly balanced. That offered little comfort to the Bernabéu, unaccustomed to seeing its team so dominated and with so little possession.

The bad news soon arrived. Kane, who functions both as a number nine and a number ten, started a move that Gnabry improved with a deep pass behind Trent. Luis Díaz, until then the least effective player in the Bavarian attack, took advantage and beat Lunin. It was a well-worked team move from Kompany’s side, whose confidence can be unsettling.

It felt like the beginning of the end, especially when, in the first minute of the second half, Carreras lost the ball with a poor first touch. It rolled to the edge of the area where Kane struck low into the corner, leaving open the question of whether even Courtois could have reached it.

Things did not improve in the minutes that followed, as more shots rained down on the Madrid area. Lunin saved a left-footed strike from Olise, the night’s most persistent tormentor, and Upamecano again failed to connect properly from a corner. The French centre-back, prone to mistakes, then handed Vinícius an opportunity with a misplaced back pass to Neuer. The Brazilian, despite the advantage, lost his composure and drove his shot into the side netting.

Still, Bellingham’s introduction created a new opening for Real Madrid. Mbappé had two superb chances. Neuer saved the first, and the second effort lacked power. He did not miss the third. A magnificent diagonal cross from Trent was met with a finish from the tightest of angles, almost on the goal line.

The Bernabéu needed little more to fall into its familiar Champions League trance. Suddenly Bayern found themselves reliving a nightmare from two years earlier, once again unable to explain why.

No one walks along the edge of the abyss with more grace than Real Madrid. This time it was not enough, but at least they will arrive in Munich with a lifeline. It is always better to rely on a miracle than on the impossible.

Related stories

Champions League

Arbeloa: “Anyone who doesn’t believe in a comeback should stay in Madrid”

Champions League

Barça clues for starting XI against Atlético

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.