Bayern's first loss at home this season was clinched by a
slick counter attack from Real after a huge individual error by Rafinha, who
sent a pass straight to Vasquez. He passed to Asensio, who calmly lifted the
ball home for the winner and a second away goal to leave his side well placed to
reach a 4th final in 5 years.
Bayern were the better side here, having 60% of possession.
They created the better chances, and it was baffling how they only scored once.
But one big error – just like at the same stage in 15/16 when Griezmann was
allowed to run through for Atletico – is enough for Real Madrid to smell blood,
and seal victory.
This squad is built to get through these ties. Real have
seemingly done the impossible and made the Champions League their competition.
The fact they will finish miles behind Barcelona domestically is irrelevant to
how these players approach things in Europe, where they have figured out how to
control games against the very best sides, and also to grind out results when
not playing well.
It's no secret they got their luck as well, of course. Who
would've thought that Robert Lewandowski, one of the best strikers of his
generation, would miss two one-on-ones in the same game? Or foreseen the time
when Thomas Muller inadvertently blocked an effort from Hummels on Real's goal-line?
But Real just find a way to get through these games, and take a lead to Spain
next week.
Zidane went conservative with his side, picking Vasquez
ahead of Benzema or Bale and playing 4-5-1, with Isco nominally on the left,
but in practice joining in with the central midfielders. Jupp Heynckes was the
polar opposite, picking essentially 5 forwards. Javi Martinez protected the
fort, but the rest went forward in an attempt to push Modric and Kroos back and
force them to play cautiously.
For a Champions League semi-final between two heavyweights,
it was a game low on moments of top quality. Instead it was a frantic game full
of mistakes - perfect for the neutral. The viewer was denied watching the
electric pace of Arjen Robben, however. Only 8 minutes had passed before the
Dutchman was limping off. He isn’t as plagued with injuries as he once was, but
at 34, you couldn’t but help wonder if Robben would again start a Champions League
game of such magnitude, even though age so far hasn’t hampered him.
Father time isn’t afflicting Franck Ribery either. The
35-year-old was Bayern’s best player, forever jinking past his marker, whipping
balls in and creating opportunities with his velvet touch. In an ever changing
world, to see Ribery on that left flank for Bayern is quite comforting.
Throughout the evening he was a threat, and if the rest of his teammates had
played like him Bayern would’ve won.
The early sub didn’t affect the home side tactically -
Muller shuffled out to the right, and Thiago came on to play midfield - but at half-time, Thiago could reflect on a
performance that at best could be described as a 2/10. The Spaniard was guilty
of letting the simplest of passes go astray and had errant touches galore. Did
he just not warm up properly, or was sulking from not starting? He’s one of my
favourite players to watch, his elegant style very easy on the eye, but
although he improved as the game went on it was an undignified display from a
player who by now should be indispensable for club and country given his
talent. The fact that he was on the bench to begin with said a lot about how his
season has gone.
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| Isco's narrow position led to joy on the right for Bayern. Ronaldo was isolated. |
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| Bayern's offensive style was relatively unaffected by the early subs and injuries |
Regardless of Thiago’s struggles, Bayern were on it. Muller
and Ribery went close before Kimmich scored in the 28th minute after Real were
caught upfield. James sent a class through ball into the path of the full-back,
who sent the ball towards goal instead of crossing as Real were expecting. He
caught the keeper out and sent the Munich crowd into fever pitch.
Six minutes later a second Bayern sub was made, with Boateng
pulling his hamstring and coming off for Sule. It was a big blow for Bayern to
lose one of the best Centre-Back’s in the world. In a way it was classic Bayern
- the players falling apart the minute they physically exert themselves. Their
terrible injury record going into these ties season after season is surely no
coincidence - after weeks of strolling through Bundesliga 5-0 cakewalks, the
sudden change in intensity is obviously hard to deal with. In this match they
were without Vidal, Alaba, Neuer and Coman even before the in-game problems.
Although, a club of Bayern's size and wealth should never use injuries as
excuses.
Ribery had a huge chance of making it 2-0, but his touch was
awful, incredibly heavy, and the chance was gone with Keylor Navas pouncing on
the ball. James, on loan from Real remember, had the keeper scrambling when
sending a curling effort just wide. Real’s 4-5-1 wasn’t working, leaving
Ronaldo too isolated and the team too narrow leaving Bayern finding joy in the
wide areas.
Bayern looked dominant though, ready to press home their
advantage, when, as has happened so many times for this Madrid side over the
last few years, a stunning intervention turned the game. Usually it's Ronaldo
who saves them, but this season Marcelo has not been far behind. The left-back
- a description that seems increasingly invalid - backed up his goals against
PSG and Juve with an outstanding strike on the half-volley of wicked power,
arrowed right into the bottom corner. It was unstoppable, and now Bayern left
the field level after a half they had completely dominated.
Zidane made a brave sub at the break, bringing on Asensio
for Isco and switching to a wider, more classic 4-3-3. Immediately, Bayern were
forced to retreat, and Ronaldo began to see more of the ball. This game was the
first Champions League game in 12 – Twelve
– that Ronaldo had failed to score in, breaking his record run of scoring
in every single CL game this season. But he was still being double-marked,
opening up space for the other attackers. Vasquez and Asensio benefited, being
left free to combine for the winning goal after Rafinha’s suicidal pass from
Bayern’s own corner.
Ronaldo did have the ball in the back of the net, with a scorching
volley with his left foot from the edge of the area, although he had quite
blatantly handballed to help control it. Amusingly, he acted with pure indignation
when the referee chalked the goal off.
Zidane, as much as I still don't see what he offers most of
the time, got his subs spot on, and bravely sent on Benzema when Carvajal
couldn't continue, putting Vasquez at right back, knowing he was one of the few
who could keep pace with Ribery. The Asensio goal had shocked the Germans,
leading to anxious passing and groans from the crowd, and Benzema almost scored
after another lax defensive pass but the keeper made a top save.
A final roll of the dice saw Bayern play without a holding
player as Tolisso replaced Javi Martinez. It was a good change, and the chances
were returning, with the game being played almost entirely deep in Real’s half.
But Real were determined to leave with a lead - Navas saved from Ribery, Ramos
put his body on the line for the team as always, heading away cross after
cross, flying into tackles and setting his side on the break with long passes.
Marcelo, after being caught out of position for Kimmich’s goal, was rock-solid
in the last 20 minutes preventing Muller from getting past him, and having the
same effect on James when he was pushed wide right. Last-second blocks were the
order of the day from the holders, and when they failed Lewandowski helped Madrid
out by poking wide from ten yards out when James had sent him clear. It was a
costly miss, a rare one from the Polish marksman and Real saw out the game.
Real went away to the French champions-elect, and won. They
went to the home of the Italian champions, and won. For the second year in a
row they won at the Allianz Arena, beating the German champions in their own
back yard. They have taken on Europe's best and beaten them – even this time
without Ronaldo scoring. Can anyone stop this team?
Liverpool 5-2 Roma
I hate Liverpool, okay?
They’re very good. Salah was awesome, scoring twice and
destroying the Roma backline despite them training with him for the last two
years. Captain Jordan Henderson gave his defining European performance,
dominating De Rossi and Nainggolan and constantly sending forward passes to the
now famous front 3 of Firmino, Salah, and Mane.
Roma played a high line, rather making a rod for their own
back against the rampant pace of Liverpool. Leaving Perotti and El Shaarawy out
left the side lacking in attacking pace and flair as well. Salah put his team 2
in front in no time, refusing to celebrate, although the Kop went justifiably
mental. As much as I despise Liverpool, even I had to admit it was something
special for an English team to attack like this in a European Semi-final; committing
so many men forward with carefree abandon. Klopp has given his team an absurd
amount of confidence, happy to attack in almost any situation.
That situation included being 5-0 up, where Liverpool were
still amazingly on the front foot and duly were punished and Roma stole two
away goals at the end. This left them in the same situation as after the 4-1
defeat at the Nou Camp in the last round; namely, win 3-0 at home and we go
through. But I find it very difficult to believe Liverpool and Salah won’t
score in Rome.
Liverpool were brilliant, you can’t deny it. The loss of
Oxlade-Chamberlain through injury (a cruel twist of fate that left me and no
doubt Southgate concerned about the World Cup) was a mere fly in the ointment
for them, with no change in their playing style and high pressing approach.
Firmino scored twice, Mane added another, but the night was
about Salah, owner of 43 goals this season. That is, make no mistake, Ronaldo
and Messi numbers. From a bloody Liverpool player. I just pray my man CR7
crushes his and the scousers dreams in Kiev in May. I don’t think I’d be able
to cope with them lot chanting ‘6 times’.
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