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What an epic quarterfinal that was. As the adrenaline slowly leaves the system we can sit back and calmly analyse just what took place in 90 pulsating minutes at the Allianz. The base facts are this:
Real Madrid won the tie 2-1. Arturo Vidal opened the scoring and helped Bayern dominate the first half. In added time at the end of the first 45, he missed a penalty (which they should never have got in the first place). In the second half, Real Madrid came out a completely different team, and Cristiano Ronaldo equaled the game up with a superb finish from a great Dani Carvajal cross. He then got dragged down (stupidly) by Javi Martinez twice in quick succession near the halfway line following which the Bayern centre-back was sent off. Ronaldo then won the tie with an emphatic finish off a sumptuous Marco Asensio cross.
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Those are the base facts... but let us go a touch deeper now and analyse the 5 key learnings from the match
#1. Dani Carvajal, Casemiro Casemiro and Sergio Ramos shine as Madrid bring back a measure of solidity in the Madrid defense
Zinedine Zidane must have been extremely concerned as Real Madrid became increasingly porous as the weeks went by. They were shipping goals left, right and centre - and it didn’t matter who they played... Las Palmas, Alaves, Leganes or Atletico Madrid... their opponents always looked like they could score if they ever really fancied it. Last Saturday’s derby showcased this tendency of Madrid’s at its worst – when they simply switched off in the last ten minutes.
This time, there was to be no switching off. The first goal was more brilliant set-piece play from Xabi Alonso and Arturo Vidal than any real defensive error, while the penalty was, to put it politely, harsh. They were utterly outplayed for the vast majority of the first half, but they held strong – Ribery, Robben, and particularly Muller could get absolutely no joy out of them. In the second half, they simply seemed impenetrable, especially after their opponents went down to 10 men.
Carlos Casemiro was immense as he stood resolute in the face of wave after wave of attacks inspired by Thiago, Alonso, and Vidal... while Daniel Carvajal was absolutely immense at right back – keeping Ribery tight to him while proving a constant menace in more forward areas.
Sergio Ramos, though, should come in for special praise. Having been lambasted by most (including yours truly) for some shaky defending all season, he stepped up to the plate when Madrid most needed him to. He was vital to Zidane’s plan of stopping Robben (I’ll expand on them in the following points) and he was immense throughout – especially during one-on-one situations, situations that had been his bane this season.
#2. Bayern Munich missed Lewandowski more than they should have. Oh, and poor Arturo!
For a team that has the kind of squad that Bayern Munich has, it is incredible just how much they missed Robert Lewandowski. Most of it, of course, had to do with just how piss-poor Thomas Muller was on the night, as he has been all season.
Der Raumdeuter (The Space Investigator) discovered neither space nor chances in his investigations today, and missed chances that he would have buried with his eyes closed a couple of seasons back. His lack of runs and, of course, wasteful finishing, stood as a sharp contrast to the Pole’s ruthlessness through the season. You’re never more loved than when you are missed, and the longing for Lewandowski was palpable.
Arturo Vidal, meanwhile, had an immense game. Mostly. His header for the opening goal was textbook – a superb run followed by a superb jump that ended with a superb header – and his movement throughout the game was excellent. As was his passing (this is where Muller’s wasteful finishing comes into play). All in all, he was arguably Munich’s best outfield player tonight.
Everyone, though, will only ever talk about his penalty miss.
Such is the cruel nature of the spot.
#3. Cometh the hour, cometh the man
In an age of numbers, let’s go by the statistics first –
- 100% take-ons- 92% pass accuracy- 8 shots- 2 chances created- 2 aerial duels won- 2 goals
That’s what Cristiano Ronaldo’s game looked like in tangible terms. But it was so much more than that.
Sure, the numbers are important – and do highlight just how effective the Portuguese superstar was today (as that stat about him being the first player in history to score 100 goals in European [UEFA] club competition underlines his all-time greatness). He was immense in the air, his passing was neat and accurate and his two finishes were sublime – the first an expertly taken first-time volley and the other a snapshot, a brilliant stab that Neuer just couldn’t keep out. When the going gets tough, the tough really do get going. He was utterly sublime today.
But most importantly he was selfless, a team player through and through. For me, the statistic that most stands out is this one – 2 blocks (in the opening quarter of an hour). When Arjen Robben was doing what Arjen Robben does and tormenting Marcelo – Ronaldo stuck to his task and tracked back to ensure Philip Lahm couldn’t get those deceptively dangerous deliveries of his in. He put in two superb blocks to deny Bayern’s captain the chance to cross and as long as it was 11 v 11, he ensured that Lahm never had a free run on the right wing.
They needed him defensively, and they need him offensively. He delivered at both ends.
Magnifique.
#4. Manuel Neuer shows everyone why he’s the best keeper in the world, and Javi Martinez’s moment(s) of madness cost his team dearly
Were it not for Manuel Neuer, this tie would be over as a contest. It’s as simple as that. He pulled off an incredible amount of top-draw saves... from Karim Benzema where he somehow managed to find the agility to reach a ball destined for the top corner, and the strength to claw it onto the bar, and out of danger... from Cristiano Ronaldo as he dove low to the right... from Gareth Bale as he tipped over exactly the kind of header that had blown Keylor Navas away at the other end. But it was a stunning save from Ronaldo that really caught the eye. Ronaldo had received the ball in the box and hammered the ball with immense power, from point blank range there was no saving it, or so he thought. Neuer stuck out a hand with the kind of reflexes that would make a flea proud – and the ball pinged off him... like his outstretched arm was made of adamantium.
Terminator? you have nothing on Manuel Neuer.
Javi Martinez, though, was at the opposite end of the spectrum. Stupid doesn’t even begin to describe his sending-off. After having initially been cautioned for an idiotic tug on Ronaldo in the middle of the park, he went on to immediately replicate his actions... almost in the exact same spot. He had been reasonably decent in the game – a couple of rash challenges on Benzema aside – but with him gone, Bayern had absolutely no chance as they were completely overrun in the middle of the park.
And the worst thing? Bayern Munich will walk into a must-win match at the Santiago Bernabeu with just one recognised central defender. (Jerome Boateng, for those wondering)
#5. The Apprentice outsmarts the Master
Zinedine Zidane knew the key lay in how his side handled Arjen Robben. And boy, did they handle him. The Dutchman was allowed to cut in by Marcelo (well aware that giving away a foul in those areas is exceptionally dangerous) but as soon as Robben did, at least two of Ramos, Casemiro or Toni Kroos ensured that they were around him. This forced Robben backwards and allowed Madrid to finally stop Robben doing what he always does so well.
To make sure he’d covered everything, Zidane made sure Ronaldo was tracking Lahm so that Robben’s rare ol’ out ball too was cut out. With the Robben route cut off, Bayern looked a quarter as dangerous as they usually do.
While it may be right that Madrid gave Bayern’s midfield way too much space in the first half, it has to be understood why this was being done. Not able to trust his centre-backs (who, until today, had been in exceptionally poor form), Zidane pulled his midfield back so deep that in effect he had with him three defensive midfielders to shield Ramos and Nacho. This, of course, was a mistake against the likes of central midfielders of the ilk of Thiago, Alonso and Vidal.
Also, Read – Zinedine Zidane is the hero Real Madrid need... and the one they deserve
In the second half, this changed – Zidane realised his mistake (and also gained enough trust in his CBs) to push Modric and Kroos forward and that made the world of a difference. Even before the sending off, Real Madrid were clambering all over their hosts (as that 47th minute Ronaldo goal showed) and Madrid’s superiority was visibly infuriating the Munich side – as Martinez so tellingly showed.
Zizou’s substitutions too were on point – Asensio was magnificent, Rodriguez played a key pass or two and Kovacic for Modric was just a sensible thing to do while Ancelotti’s made no difference whatsoever.
- All in all, the apprentice did outsmart the master yesterday night and showed once again something that a lot of people keep forgetting – whether as a player, or a coach, when it comes to big games no one does it quite like Zinedine Zidane.
