Real Madrid 2-2 Bayern Munich: 3 key battles that decided the game

#2 Luka Modric vs Franck Ribery

Luka Modric was vital in both defense and offense for the home team — Luka Modric was vital in both defence and offence for the home team

This was one of those games where you understood just how important Luka Modric is to the Real Madrid engine, as the Croatian midfielder put in a tiring shift in both attack and defence for the defending champions.

"Lucky Luka", as he is fondly called, had nothing to do with luck on this night, as he carried the entire game on his shoulders and made sure that the Germans never felt safe when in possession of the ball.

Deployed as a deep-lying playmaker, his pressing was evident even in the first leg as he repeatedly found his place near Ulreich but tonight was when he was at his best. Sharp in distribution and persistent in possession, Modric ran the show behind the scenes at his imperial best.

It was in defence that he really shone. Having to make up for Marco Asensio's lack of defensive awareness and David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich in free-flowing football, Modric was the only reason that Bayern did not score from that side of the pitch.

Franck Ribery's finishing was the key factor in deciding the first leg, but this time around it was his playmaking. Far too often, he opted to dribble past the Bayern defenders instead of finding the closest teammate with a routine pass, and his team suffered for it.

He was responsible for lethal attacks coming into nothing, and the frustration was evident in the face of Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski when the crosses didn't come in.

It ultimately came down to who helped their team the most, and Modric won this encounter quite easily.