Bayern leaves Real Madrid blank

BarcelonaSuffering, suffering much more than expected, but Bayern achieved the objective: to eliminate Real Madrid and qualify for the Champions League semi-finals (4-3, 6-4 on aggregate). Despite having a 1-2 from the first leg at the Bernabéu, the Bavarians needed a goal in the last minute from Luis Díaz, when the whites were playing with 10 men, and a goal from Olise in stoppage time to secure passage to the penultimate round of the competition. Madrid fell with honor, but fell, and is condemned to a second season without a trophy.

It was an offensive thriller between two opposing models. The one represented by Bayern, the team that wants to attack through possession, control, and passing; and the one preferred by Real Madrid, which wants to attack with maximum verticality possible. So far, everything normal, everything according to expectations. What was not anticipated was that the plans would go up in smoke 30 seconds into the game and that the first half would be an exchange of blows that left even the fans exhausted.

Goalkeeper Neuer, a regular suspect, gifted the ball to Arda Güler in the first play of the game and the Turk scored with an empty net. A shock that, despite everything, did not frighten Bayern, who had a one-goal advantage from the first leg. In fact, the Bavarians equalized the match with a small gift, a poorly defended corner that Pavlovic headed into the small box, taking advantage of Lunin's indecision.

With the draw and home advantage, Bayern offered a masterclass in possession football, technical plays, and attacks on goal. But, as often happens in these cases, if the play is too elaborate, the defense has time to regroup, and the reality is that there were few interior passes that led to clear scoring chances. Meanwhile, Madrid stuck to their plan and attacked with speed whenever they recovered the ball. In one of these instances, the referee blew for a rather rigorous foul on the edge of the box that Güler sent into the top corner. Again, Bayern equalized with a cross shot from Kane, but Mbappé, in an action that originated from a foul not called on the home team, scored the 2-3 with which they went into halftime.

Madrid was comfortable in this exchange of blows while Kompany asked his players for calm. When Bayern had controlled the ball, they had not only attacked better, they had also defended with order. But the nerves of a Champions League tie and the stature of an opponent who has a star in the competition can make anyone nervous, even a Bayern team that was facing the quarter-finals labeled as one of the most in-form teams in Europe.

The second half began with the same script. And Bayern was on the verge of shooting themselves in the foot due to this incessant streak. Despite showing they had a better ability to control, the urgency to make the decisive pass led to unforced errors in midfield, which resulted in quick and very dangerous attacks from Madrid. The match, in the final third, was a coin toss, a game of Russian roulette.

Camavinga's expulsion, decisive

The substitutions helped Bayern. Also the physical wear and tear, which penalized the Madrid players more. The final minutes were played near Luinin's goal. Madrid was tired and lacked that spark needed to hurt on the counter-attack. In fact, Upamecano had two headers that went just wide of the post. But in the last five minutes, everything turned around. Camavinga was sent off to waste time and, with 10 men, Bayern found the path to goal with an extraordinary shot from Luis Díaz. Only stoppage time remained and, attacking desperately, Bayern scored their fifth with a counter-attack finished by Olise.