Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich (Mbappé & Vinícius Júnior). Defeat in the first leg… This is the immediate reaction to the game. Get more: Player ratings, interviews and a post match podcast.
A lack of focus on La Liga has all-but thrown the title challenger in the dumpster fire – but the priority has now arrived. A Champions League quarter-final showdown against German giants Bayern Munich was deemed the make or break point for Real Madrid’s season. Thiago Pitarch would retain his place in the side
for the big game. Kylian Mbappé led the line, with the likes of Jude Bellingham available on the bench as back up. Fede Valverde captained the team for the big game.
All hands were needed on deck to keep Bayern Munich at bay during the first ten minutes, as Álvaro Carreras swiped a ball that should have had more power on it off of the line. Vinícius Júnior saw a low shot saved as Real Madrid did try to hit back, but Bayern looked sharper in possession. So much so, that they made Real Madrid shaky in-front of their own goal – and should have capitalised on a number of mistakes to take the lead. They did manage to go ahead when Luis Díaz slotted the ball past Andriy Lunin. Kylian Mbappé tested Manuel Neuer, but that was the last time they would do so during the first-half. 0-1 at the interval.
Harry Kane scored almost immediately into the second-half to make it 2-0, after Álvaro Carreras was caught in no-man’s land. Bayern took full control from here. Vinícius Júnior had a golden chance after a rare Bayern mistake, but could only hit the side netting. After another Bayern spell, Kylian Mbappé came quite close to a shock goal – but the keeper made another low save. Mbappé did get his goal after a great ball into the box from Trent Alexander-Arnold gave the Frenchman a simple finish. This gave the home side some momentum going into the last ten minutes, leading to a Vinícius Júnior pop shot that needed saving. Jamal Musiala almost scored a third for Bayern, but could only trickle his effort wide. Mbappé then hit a strike wide, but it was Bayern again who looked better going forward – wasting plenty of openings late on. This leaves it all to play for in the second leg despite the poor performance. 1-2 at full-time. What are your predications for the tie?
