Just when you think you’ve seen it all real MadridThey go and play like they did in the first half at the Allianz Arena.
The 15-time European Cup winners, whose unexpected victories in difficult circumstances are central to their identity, are struggling. They are heading towards the end of the LaLiga season, nine points off the top, and in uefa champions leaguethey were defeated Bayern Munich In the first phase last week.
But in Munich, against one of Europe’s top teams, they scored three goals and conceded two in the first half in 45 breathless minutes, leaving the tie tied 4-4 and making you wonder: could they really do it again? Only one visiting team has scored three times in the first half of a Champions League match at the Allianz, and that was Madrid, who, even in 2014, had done so best away from home for the longest time.
In the end, the answer was no, and they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage, losing 4-3 On the night, 6-4 on aggregate. But they became very close. The match went to extra time until substitutions were made Eduardo Camavinga Sent off for an unnecessary second yellow card. Soon after, Bayern winger Luis Diaz scored in the 89th minute. Michael Olise Great scoring with the last kick of the game.
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“You can’t send a player out like that,” said coach Álvaro Arbeloa, describing Camavinga’s dismissal as decisive. “I think the referee didn’t realize he already had a yellow card.” Jude Bellingham muttered that he was leaving una bromaA joke as he sped through the mixed zone later.
Madrid are now set to end the second consecutive season without a major trophy. This is unacceptable at a club where success is measured by adding to the trophy cabinet, and is likely to result in major changes, including for Arbeloa.
“I will accept the consequences of such a defeat,” the coach said. “I fully understand any decisions the club takes.”
The only consolation for Madrid fans was an exciting and surprising reminder that, on their day – which hasn’t come nearly as often this season – this is still a team full of superbly talented players.
This was further proof to some of his critics: if he is sometimes capable of doing so, then against Manchester City Or Bayern, why can’t they do it more often?
A day earlier, Arbeloa had stated clearly in his pre-match press conference: A comeback was definitely on the table. “We are Real Madrid,” Arbeloa said. “If there’s any team that can come into this stadium and change things, it’s us. … I don’t think we need to work a miracle. Everybody believes.”
Arbeloa backed up his words by choosing an attack-minded XI, which also included a midfield four federico valverdebellingham, Arda Guler And brahim diazTogether for the first time this season.
Guler set the tone, scoring in 35 secondsMadrid’s fastest ever Champions League goal and the first ever conceded by Bayern in the competition. The mistake was of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who gifted the ball to Guler. Long-range shot specialist Guler is the last player you want to provide this kind of opportunity.
The tie was even, but not for long. Five minutes later, Madrid’s goalkeeper Andrey Lunin Joshua Kimmich’s corner and the Bayern midfielder were badly misjudged Alexander Pavlovich I had an easy header to make it 1-1 on the night.
Guler’s work was not completed. In the 29th minute, his free kick beat Neuer again, with the experienced goalkeeper getting a chance to reach the ball but could not stop it. Bayern’s harry kane Soon responded, making the score 2-2 Trent Alexander-Arnold Guilty of watching the ball.
Madrid kept coming, Vinicius Junior hitting the bar and then kilian mbappe Tied again at 4-4 on aggregate. The move was a blueprint for the best-case scenario for this Madrid team: Bellingham passed to Vinicius, who found Mbappé – the star trio combining at lightning speed.
“I think there have been a lot of games where we’ve had a really good mix,” Bellingham said before the match. “When things go right. I’ve seen it before.”
Mbappe will finish the Champions League campaign on 15 goals – two fewer than his idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s 17-goal record – as his wait to finally win the competition continues. In the second half, he was still dangerous, especially as a chance inside the six-yard box – set up by Alexander-Arnold’s cross-field ball – was saved by Neuer. Later, the Forward came close to founding Bellingham.
This was followed by a red card from Camavinga, who was on the pitch for only 25 minutes, and a deflected goal from Díaz.
Madrid players, enraged by Camavinga’s decision, angrily chased referee Slavko Vinčić at the final whistle, as the coaching staff tried to pull them away. Neither of them stayed to talk to the media afterward, leaving Arbeloa to think alone about the future.
“We have faced many teams [this season],” Arbeloa said. “[Vincent] Company of Bayern, Pep Guardiola’s city, [Diego] Simeone’s Atlético. I don’t know how many members I have in this team. Certainly this is much less than the examples I have given.
“I have tried to help the club in every possible way and will continue to do so until the last day.”
The day will come at the end of the season when Madrid – and president Florentino Pérez, who was with the team in Munich – will have to decide: how much of this project can be saved, and how much needs to be torn down and started again?
