Here’s what happened in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, in case you missed it…
The result
Watch match highlights: Real Madrid 1, Bayern Munich 0
Read match report: Benzema gives Real narrow advantage
Thoughts on the day
A different kind of Real This wasn’t the free-scoring, up-tempo Real Madrid that we have grown accustomed to seeing this season, especially in the Champions League. This was something different: A methodical and measured Real. Manager Carlo Ancelotti was spot on with his tactics, setting his team up in a well-organized defensive stance that allowed it to absorb the Bayern pressure and use its speed on the counter. And it worked—even with Cristiano Ronaldo being less than influential and with Gareth Bale having a quiet night in a cameo appearance off the bench. Instead, it was Luka Modric, Pepe and Fabio Coentrao who were the standout performers, marshalling a resolute Real that refused to be breached by the reigning European champions.
Bayern was all over Real right from the opening kickoff, but it was los blancos who struck in the 19th minute, Karim Benzema finishing off a brilliantly executed counter move completely against the run of play. For all of the Germans’ possession on the night (64 percent), they rarely threatened and failed to deliver that final pass that would unlock the Real defence. The Spaniards, on the other hand, made the most of the ball when they had it, although even they were a bit wasteful—Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria squandered glorious scoring chances in the first half that would have buried Bayern. The quality of this performance should give Real confidence that it can defend its lead next week in Munich.
Guardiola gets it wrong with Lahm: Bayern manager Pep Guardiola took a bit of a gamble, playing Phillip Lahm in central midfield and deploying Rafinha at right back. It was a bold move by the Spaniard—Rafinha often plays on the right side of defence in the Bundesliga and Lahm is brilliant when used in midfield, influencing matches with his superb distribution. What’s more, Guardiola sets his team up to press their opponents and make them chase the ball in their end, and Lahm proves to be invaluable on that score.
But Bayern was facing a Real team that is lethal on the counter, and with the nervy and inconsistent Jerome Boateng starting on the right in central defence, there was even more reason to use Lahm a right back—he’s a better defender than Rafinha, and effectively links up with Arjen Robben on that flank when bombing forward. Guardiola appeared to acknowledge his mistake in the 67th when he brought on central midfielder Javi Martinez for Rafinha, and moved Lahm to right back. Wanting to nick a road goal, Guardiola then introduced Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller in the final 15 minutes. But perhaps if he had played Lahm at right back and started Gotze or Muller from the beginning, he wouldn’t have had to chase the game.
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Stat of the day
6 – Bayern Munich have lost their last six Champions League games at the Bernabeu (inc. the 2010 final vs Inter). Hoodoo.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 23, 2014
Goal of the day
Only one to choose from, but it was a textbook example of how to score on the counter. In the 19th minute, Real built out from the back and worked the ball out wide to Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Fabio Coentrao who turned Bayern defender Jerome Boateng inside out and then fed a sublime ball in the middle for Karim Benzema to tap home.
Save of the day
Coentrao was at it again in the 68th minute, taking a quick free kick that unleashed Ronaldo down the left flank. The Portuguese unleashed a low, driving shot that Manuel Neuer managed to scoop away.
Question of the day
[polldaddy poll=7991478]
Tweet of the day
Paul Sarahs nails it on Real’s goal:
"Against the run of play" doesn't even begin to cover it.
— Paul Sarahs (@PaulSarahs) April 23, 2014
3 stars
1) Luka Modric: The Croatian did at all: Complete passes, make interceptions and important tackles, and held possession well. A complete performance.
2) Pepe: He was outstanding in central defence for Real, cutting out a number of crosses played into the box by Bayern, snuffing out danger before it developed.
3) Philipp Lahm: Made a number of quality passes while playing in central midfield, and was one of the few Bayern players that displayed any creativity.
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