MADRID — At times, even the legendary magic of the Bernabéu isn’t enough.
Real Madrid has a history of remarkable UEFA Champions League nights at this iconic stadium, often triumphing against stronger opponents in ways that defy belief. However, in Tuesday’s 1-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, harsh reality set in, making a comeback seem elusive.
Facing a skilled and confident Bayern side, Madrid appeared rather ordinary for the first hour. The visitors controlled the game and were clearly the better team, more than the scoreline indicated. However, as the second half progressed, the momentum shifted gradually. Madrid began generating a consistent stream of opportunities, with Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé coming ever closer to scoring.
When Mbappé finally found the net in the 74th minute, the cautious optimism of the Bernabéu crowd grew louder as Madrid pressed for an equalizer. However, that goal never came, primarily due to Bayern’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who made an impressive nine saves.
By the end of the match, both teams had recorded 20 shots, and the chances were evenly matched (Madrid with a slight edge of 15 to 14). Nonetheless, Bayern’s expected goals (xG) of 2.99 significantly surpassed Madrid’s 1.97.
With only a one-goal difference, the tie remains open as the teams head to Munich for the return leg next week. “We’re alive,” coach Álvaro Arbeloa emphasized repeatedly after the match.
“We could have scored more,” said Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. “The team reacted well. Neuer was the MVP.”
Antonio Rüdiger echoed the sentiment: “The best player was Neuer.”
However, throughout much of the match, it felt as though Arbeloa’s squad had their strengths revealed, alongside vulnerabilities, under the Champions League spotlight against top-tier competition.
Bayern, guided by Vincent Kompany, took charge early, creating two significant chances to score: one from Dayot Upamecano, whose close-range shot was cleared off the line by Álvaro Carreras, and another from Serge Gnabry, who missed an opportunity after capitalizing on a misplaced pass from Thiago Pitarch. They eventually went ahead in the 41st minute through Luis Díaz, who capped off a well-executed move involving Harry Kane and Gnabry.
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Kane’s goal just 20 seconds into the second half stretched Madrid’s comeback hopes even further. Arbeloa’s halftime instructions likely focused on Madrid needing to start strong and play with intensity against Bayern.
However, they came out surprisingly passive: Vinícius misplayed a pass under pressure to Carreras, leading to a lost possession. As Vinícius and Mbappé jogged back, Bayern swiftly moved the ball to Kane, who was left unmarked outside the box, effortlessly slotting past Lunin.
“We made two errors [leading to the goals],” Arbeloa said. “We lost the ball twice. We must avoid that. Against teams like this, errors won’t go unpunished.”
It was in the final thirty minutes that Madrid looked most dangerous, as Bayern’s intensity began to wane, providing Madrid with more space to exploit.
Three excellent chances emerged within a span of just seven minutes shortly after the hour mark. First, Vinícius, capitalizing on a poor header from Upamecano, attempted to round Neuer but was forced wide, failing to get his shot back on target. Mbappé then came close twice, once being thwarted by Neuer, followed by a cross that drifted across the goal.
“That’s the Mbappé we want to see,” Arbeloa noted. “He was a constant threat.”
A new wave of danger arose when Trent Alexander-Arnold received the ball. His deliveries posed a genuine threat on what had appeared to be a promising route to the goal, ultimately crossing for Mbappé, whose shot found the net after initially being saved by Neuer.
As Madrid sought a second goal, they faced peril at the opposite end as well. In the closing minutes, Bayern had three opportunities to seal the match. Substitute Éder Militão, who made a noticeable impact after his introduction, blocked a cross that was destined for the six-yard box. Subsequently, Bayern created two more chances in the 89th and 91st minutes, the latter wasting a three-on-one break.
Madrid’s challenge for the second leg in Munich next week will be tougher with the suspension of their most reliable player this season, Aurélien Tchouaméni, who has no direct replacement in midfield.
They will need to adopt a bold approach, playing aggressively, which is a departure from their usual comfort with a more defensive style.
“If any team can win in Munich, it’s Real Madrid,” Arbeloa asserted in his post-match press conference. And they very well might.
Madrid still has the potential for something extraordinary and unexpected in Germany, as they have in the past. With players like Vinicius, Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde, they possess the necessary talent to make it happen.
However, despite a notably improved final half-hour here, what transpired at the Bernabéu was insufficient. They’ll need to elevate their performance in Munich, and doing so may expose them to greater vulnerabilities.