On a historic Champions League night, Bayern Munich were humiliated 4-0 by Real Madrid. A brace each by Sergio Ramosand Cristiano Ronaldo ended Bayern’s dreams of back-to-back success in Europe's biggest club competitions.
Twenty minutes into the second leg of the Champions League semifinal between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, all hope had died. Two headers by Ramos set up by set-pieces fromLuka Modric and Angel di Maria killed FC Bayern.
It had all started so well, at least until the kickoff; as the players prepared to enter the Allianz Arena, FC Bayern fans displayed an impressively choreographed Champions League sign throughout the stadium. Organized by Bayern’s famous Club Nr. 12, it could have been the starting signal for what Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge called “hell” for Los Blancos.
But it turned out to be a nightmare instead. Something has gone very wrong for FC Bayern in recent weeks. “Bundesliga is over,” Pep Guardiola said after winning his first German title in March. No team had ever won it earlier. It went downhill from there. They have only won four of the next 10 games that followed. They scored 19 and conceded 17.
“If we had done it [beat Real Madrid] today, nobody would question if we have won the league too early. But we got punished 4-0,” said midfielder Arjen Robben, one of the few players to maintain his form since that title-winning day in Berlin.
Against Madrid, to keep their dream alive, Bayern needed to make up a 1-0 defeat from the first leg, and the club's intention was to make a statement. Instead, Die Roten looked nervous at the beginning.
Courtesy of Stephan UersfeldBayern Munich's fans at Allianz Arena tried to create an intimidating atmosphere for Real Madrid.
Just like the stadium was looking for a way to intimidate Real Madrid, the team, led by Bastian Schweinsteiger, tried to fight their way into the match. Franck Ribery got involved in some minor brawls with Pepe and Ramos close to the corner.
They had most of the possession, again, like most of their games. Guardiola has stressed that this is his philosophy, but his team looked out of shape defending. Seeing that advantage, Carlo Ancelotti had urged his team to press higher, before the box and midfielder Modric and Xabi Alonso followed suit.
“The key was the first leg where we controlled the match in a good way. We had more confidence. We defended better. We gave the rhythm,” Ancelotti commented in the postmatch conference tonight. The Italian was pointing to the fact that the confidence provided from the first leg allowed them to play more freely in the second. Conversely, on the other hand, Guardiola faces real pressure for the first time since joining Bayern.
While, in post-match interviews, the Bavarians bemoaned conceding from set pieces, the first goal came through a neat and cleverly played counter in reality. Real won the ball in their own half, Di Maria picked it up on the right at the halfway line and sent a long pass over to Karim Benzema, who could only be stopped for the cost over a corner. Real went up 1-0.
“We studied their zonal marking,” Ancelotti explained about their counter-attacking strategy.
They had most of the possession, again, like most of their games. Guardiola has stressed that this is his philosophy, but his team looked out of shape defending. Seeing that advantage, Carlo Ancelotti had urged his team to press higher, before the box and midfielder Modric and Xabi Alonso followed suit.
“The key was the first leg where we controlled the match in a good way. We had more confidence. We defended better. We gave the rhythm,” Ancelotti commented in the postmatch conference tonight. The Italian was pointing to the fact that the confidence provided from the first leg allowed them to play more freely in the second. Conversely, on the other hand, Guardiola faces real pressure for the first time since joining Bayern.
While, in post-match interviews, the Bavarians bemoaned conceding from set pieces, the first goal came through a neat and cleverly played counter in reality. Real won the ball in their own half, Di Maria picked it up on the right at the halfway line and sent a long pass over to Karim Benzema, who could only be stopped for the cost over a corner. Real went up 1-0.
“We studied their zonal marking,” Ancelotti explained about their counter-attacking strategy.
John Macdougall/AFP/Getty ImagesPep Guardiola's Champions League dream was ended by Real Madrid.
Bayern were shocked again only a few minutes later. This time Ramos put the ball away from a Di Maria free kick. The title holders reacted with possession, and control, and passed the ball around the box. While they looked nervous in the first few minutes, they now looked frightened. Robben played a lovely pass into the box to David Alaba. Instead of shooting at the goal, the Austrian international sent the ball into the nowhere land between Real’s defending and the Bavarian’s attacking line.
But not only were Bayern frightened, and shocked, they were angry and not able keep their temper. After another counterattack, this time through the BBC -- Gareth Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo -- all but killed the match. Robben started complaining about time wasting, and, behind referee Paulo Soares' back, Ribery slapped Madrid right back Daniel Carvajal in the face. The France international, who had desperately hoped to win the Ballon d’Or, was not punished for the incident. In the light of an historic defeat, their beautiful football had finally turned.
Following a second half with some long distance shots from FC Bayern, and fans leaving the stadium early, Ronaldo, who had drawn a free kick outside the box and wrapped up an historic defeat with a stunning, precise finish from the set piece.
“It’s a tough night for us. I am very proud of my team,” Guardiola said in the post-match news conference. He knows that he will now have to take some blame for what sometimes feels like an obsession for ball possession.
On Tuesday, he took the blame, although don't expect him to change his philosophy anytime soon.
“It’s the coach’s mistake,” he ,pointing to his decision to only play Toni Kroos and Schweinsteiger in the heart of his midfield. "They did not have enough possession."
He then added, “I can’t change what I live, what I feel. I like to play with the ball. We’ve played liked that against Arsenal, Manchester and in the group stages. But, of course, we have to consider if that’s the best concept with our players.”
On May 17, Bayern Munich meet Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final. Guardiola and his team will now need to regroup to avoid a tragic end to a season that had gone so well until late March.
But not only were Bayern frightened, and shocked, they were angry and not able keep their temper. After another counterattack, this time through the BBC -- Gareth Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo -- all but killed the match. Robben started complaining about time wasting, and, behind referee Paulo Soares' back, Ribery slapped Madrid right back Daniel Carvajal in the face. The France international, who had desperately hoped to win the Ballon d’Or, was not punished for the incident. In the light of an historic defeat, their beautiful football had finally turned.
Following a second half with some long distance shots from FC Bayern, and fans leaving the stadium early, Ronaldo, who had drawn a free kick outside the box and wrapped up an historic defeat with a stunning, precise finish from the set piece.
“It’s a tough night for us. I am very proud of my team,” Guardiola said in the post-match news conference. He knows that he will now have to take some blame for what sometimes feels like an obsession for ball possession.
On Tuesday, he took the blame, although don't expect him to change his philosophy anytime soon.
“It’s the coach’s mistake,” he ,pointing to his decision to only play Toni Kroos and Schweinsteiger in the heart of his midfield. "They did not have enough possession."
He then added, “I can’t change what I live, what I feel. I like to play with the ball. We’ve played liked that against Arsenal, Manchester and in the group stages. But, of course, we have to consider if that’s the best concept with our players.”
On May 17, Bayern Munich meet Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final. Guardiola and his team will now need to regroup to avoid a tragic end to a season that had gone so well until late March.
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