Posted by Here are my three takeaways from Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final match-up:
1) Ruthless Real Punish Bayern
In their 25th meeting in European competition, two-time defending champions Real Madrid were able to collect their twelfth win and fifth in a row against the German giants, although they hardly deserved to. Having previously collected away wins against PSG and Juventus in this year’s knockout stages, Madrid came into the match as favorites.
Madrid lined up in Munich without a recognized center forward, instead electing to play an elastic front three of Ronaldo, Isco and Lucas Vazquez. Ronaldo, playing mostly from the left, was the most fixed positionally of the three, with Isco and Lucas taking turns occupying the Bayern center backs, while the latter could often be seen dropping into midfield to pick up possession. However, before Marcelo’s bizarre refusal to track-back allowed Bayern right-back Joshua Kimmich to storm down Madrid’s left hand side before beating Blancos keeper Keylor Navas at his near post to put the Bavarians 1-0 up, Madrid had barely threatened. Following Kimmich’s goal, Bayern began to show clear control of the match, which meant that Marcelo’s equalizer just before the first half ended came completely against the run of play. Atoning for his defensive lapse, Marcelo launched a powerful volley from outside the box following Javi Martinez’s failure to clear a headed cross by Dani Carvajal.
Although Bayern continued to have the better of the play during the first exchanges of the second half, they created further self-inflicted damage on Madrid’s second goal. Following a Bayern corner, Rafinha scuffed a square pass into the path of Vazquez, which allowed Madrid a 2-on-2 counterattack that was finished by Marco Asensio. If Bayern eventually go out following the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, their elemental mistakes to allow Madrid two precious away goals will likely be seen as the moments when they lost the tie.
2) Lewandowski Fails Madrid Audition
Ever since his four-goal performance in the first leg of the 2012-13 semifinal made him the first player to score three or more goals in in a Champions League match against Real Madrid, Lewandowski has been repeatedly linked to Madrid. This year the speculation has intensified, with some in the Spanish press reporting that the Polish number 9 is looking for a move to Madrid in the summer. However, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s mobility decreasing season-on-season, as he completes his transition (if he has not done so already) into a full-time penalty box predator, questions should be raised regarding Lewandowski’s compatibility with the Portuguese superstar.
With Karim Benzema, who is experiencing his worst goalscoring season since his debut season in 2009-10, on the bench, Lewandowski had the opportunity to demonstrate his suitability for Los Blancos. Playing as a more fixed center forward than the more mobile role Benzema habitually adopts, Lewandowski was a peripheral figure for much of the match. However, he failed to convert the two presentable chances that fell to him, directing a header straight at Keylor Navas after a majestic James dead ball, before skewing an attempted chip wide of the near post after being played through by substitute Corentin Tolisso in the 88’. While Madrid could still decide to spring for Lewandowski in this summer’s market, the former Dortmund man did not increase the chances of a transfer to Spain.
3) Ribéry and Set-Pieces Give Bayern Second Leg Hope
With Madrid taking two away goals back to the Santiago Bernabéu, Bayern have it all to do in the second leg, and the pressure will be on them to avoid a fourth Champions League semifinal exit in the last five years. The Bavarians’ brightest spark during the match was Franck Ribery, a man who has been a part of all those previous disappointments. A similarly inspired individual performance in the second leg would leave Bayern with a chance of a comeback. At 35 and out of contract in the summer, questions have been asked about Ribery’s place in next season’s squad. However, he has managed six goals in all competitions this season, having only scored seven the two previous seasons combined. Although he did not find the net here, the Frenchman was a constant danger cutting in from the left hand flank, testing Keylor Navas repeatedly with right-footed efforts. On this evidence, the former Marseille and Galatasaray man is worthy of a new one-year deal.
Bayern can take further encouragement from the danger they created on set pieces in this match. On a corner shortly before the previously mentioned Lewandowski header, the Pole rose from a corner to flick on for Mats Hummels, who subsequently blazed over on the volley. The Germans’ best set piece chance came mid-way through the second half, as a short corner routine allowed right-back Joshua Kimmich to float a ball to the back post, where Javi Martinez climbed above Casemiro and Varane to head across goal, where the waiting Lewandowski and Muller got in each other’s way in an effort to turn the ball over the line. The repeated chances that Bayern created from set pieces, coupled with the varying methods with which they found success (short corner, flick on from a corner, free kick) suggests that they could continue to pose problems for Madrid in this area.
Just for Kicks 