For years, FC Bayern was something of a fearsome opponent for Real; they claimed to be the “bestia negra”, the black beast. Back then, at the end of the 1990s and the beginning of the new millennium, the Madrilenians often failed in the Champions League against the German record champions or at least had a difficult time. Then the turning point came and the Munich team suddenly could no longer win against Real.
For a while on Tuesday it looked as if FC Bayern could end their negative streak after six winless duels with Los Blancos in this Champions League semi-final first leg. The Munich team turned the game around after falling behind, led through goals from Leroy Sané and Harry Kane, but ultimately had to accept the 2-2 draw. “It was an up-and-down game,” said Bayern’s Konrald Laimer on Prime Video: “But yes, it’s Real Madrid. You can’t allow anything against this team.”
“Funnily enough, it felt like the goals came when the other team was better,” said Real’s German international Toni Kroos. “We are reasonably convinced that we will progress at home.” As in 2014, 2017 and 2018, Real is in a better starting position before the second leg this time, but given the Munich team’s very good performance at times, it is not hopeless next week on Wednesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on DAZN) at the Bernabeu Stadium with a win to reach the final on June 1st in London.
From the two teams that last met in the semi-final first leg in Munich six years ago, only two players were on the pitch from the start. Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller at Bayern, Kroos and Lucas Vazquez were already at Real back then.
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Tuchel had announced that Müller would play his 150th Champions League game in this semi-final, but his inclusion in the starting eleven was somewhat surprising. The Bayern coach, however, initially left Raphael Guerreiro and Serge Gnabry, who had recovered from a muscle injury, on the bench.
The spectators in the Munich Arena, the fans of the German record champions, were ready for a big football party and created a worthy Champions League atmosphere. And the spark spread to the team down on the lawn. Bayern started this duel energetically, as if they wanted to sweep their opponents out of the stadium.
After a pass from Toni Kroos, Vinicius Junior pushes the ball past Manuel Neuer to make it 0-1.AFP
They shot at goal for the first time after 42 seconds, but Sané didn’t hit the ball properly. Barely six minutes later, Kane tried – he was denied by Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. Shortly afterwards, the Englishman played Sané free on the left, but he finished hastily.
Now it was Kane’s turn again, this time he tried a lob from 40 meters over Lunin, who was well in front of the goal, but the ball also went over the crossbar. And then Jamal Musiala was once in a good position, but he missed too.
The Munich team played brilliantly in this initial phase, highly concentrated and with conviction, but usually finished too hectically. But anyone who misses so many chances against the Madrilenians is often punished because they don’t allow themselves to be disturbed – and they have Kroos, who overturned Bayern’s tactics with a brilliant pass in the 24th minute.
He saw that Min-Jae Kim was moving forward a little too hastily and played the ball into the gap that the Korean had made possible in the middle of the defense to Vinicius Junior. The striker, who recognized the large amount of free space, had a free path, ran a few meters and finished well to make it 1-0 for Real.
Leroy Sané dribbles into the penalty area and slams the ball into the Real Madrid goal to make it 1-1.dpa
After this pass, the Munich central defender’s positional error and the goal, the game was different. The Munich team no longer had the confidence to attack their opponents. Thomas Tuchel tried to push his players forward from outside. Bayern couldn’t manage more than a header from Leon Goretzka and a free kick from Kane until the break.
Tuchel left Goretzka in the dressing room and brought in Guerreiro, who now formed the midfield center with Laimer. Real, or rather Kroos, had the first good chance after the break. He tested Neuer with a powerful shot (50th). But then this game took another turn.
Harry Kane converted his penalty to make it 2-1 shortly after Sané’s blast.EPA
During Munich’s first advance in the second half, Müller cleverly let the ball pass to Sané, who dribbled around the full-back and ended his long goalless streak with a courageous shot (53′). The 1-1 draw released new energy, both in the audience and in Bayern. Shortly afterwards they appeared in the penalty area again, Vazquez could only unfairly stop the fast Musiala. As usual, Kane confidently converted the penalty to make it 2-1 (57th).
Now a fast-paced football game developed because the Madrilenians also gave up their restraint, took more risks and the Munich team played again with the self-confidence of the early phase after taking the lead. Kane and Dier missed good chances to increase Bayern’s lead to 3-1, at the other end Vinicius escaped again, but Neuer was careful.
But Vinicius Junior also scored from the spot and made it 2-2 for Real Madrid.AFP
And then suddenly it was quiet again in the Munich arena. Kim clumsily fouled Rodrygo in the penalty area, and here too there was a penalty, which Vinicius converted to make the final score 2-2 (83′). Bayern coach Tuchel remains optimistic about the second leg: “The starting position is now basically crystal clear, we don’t need to think about it,” he said: “90 minutes, 120 minutes, penalty shootout. Victory in Madrid and on to Wembley.”
