Sergio Ramos's two set-piece goals put Real in charge and they completed the rout with brilliant counterattacking in Munich
The victory was extraordinarily more comprehensive, but this tactical battle was incredibly similar to the first leg, where Bayern Munich dominated possession without offering any penetration, and Real Madrid attacked at speed. In Madrid, the Spanish side's best two chances had come from ruthless counterattacking play – Karim Benzema putting Real ahead on the break, and Cristiano Ronaldo missing a golden chance to double the lead in similar circumstances. Here, the pattern was simply more extreme.
That was logical considering the slight differences in situation and lineups – whereas Bayern had played cautiously in the first leg, here they required a victory and necessarily played more adventurously. Thomas Müller was fielded as a supplementary striker, whereas Guardiola had previously used three midfielders, while the return of Gareth Bale ensured Real Madrid had yet another devastating weapon on the break.
But if the pattern was predictable, the sheer one-sidedness was remarkable. Real were rampant, and there were warning signs from the opening minutes, with Angel di María overlapping Ronaldo on the break in an almost identical situation to the movement shown by Fábio Coentrão for Real's goal in the first leg. Bayern started by playing more directly than we've come to expect, but then retreated into their shell and offered slow, patient and rather predictable passing football. Real simply sat deep in two banks of four, waited for Bayern moves to break down, then attacked at tremendous speed.
The use of that midfield quartet meant Ronaldo was able to play upfront alongside Benzema, and at transitions Bayern were simply unable to cope two-against-two at the back, with Jérôme Boateng and Dante lacking midfield protection. As Bayern were using a high defensive line, Manuel Neuer was forced to sweep up outside his box, twice getting his clearances wrong, allowing first Bale and then Ronaldo to attempt long-range efforts at an empty net – both were off target. When even Neuer, the ultra-dependable goalkeeper widely considered the best in the world, was unable to perform simple tasks which are usually second nature, it was clear Bayern were in for a difficult evening against Real's pace.
As vulnerable as Bayern were to counterattacking, however, their terrible set-piece defending was their most crucial failure. Twice Sergio Ramos headed into the net when unmarked, which represents a worrying regression from last season, when Bayern got their noses in front against Spanish opposition, Barcelona, at this stage because of their own set-piece power.
Indeed, it was something of a role reversal. Bayern were now playing the fruitless tiki-taka while their opponents powered their way in front from set plays, then turned a commanding lead into a rout with brilliant counterattacking. Real's third goal summed it up, with Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo motoring forward instantly when possession was won, constructing a lightning-fast break based around speed and selflessness.
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| Cristiano Ronaldo finishes off a lightning-quick break to score Real Madrid's third goal at Bayern Munich. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters |
The victory was extraordinarily more comprehensive, but this tactical battle was incredibly similar to the first leg, where Bayern Munich dominated possession without offering any penetration, and Real Madrid attacked at speed. In Madrid, the Spanish side's best two chances had come from ruthless counterattacking play – Karim Benzema putting Real ahead on the break, and Cristiano Ronaldo missing a golden chance to double the lead in similar circumstances. Here, the pattern was simply more extreme.
That was logical considering the slight differences in situation and lineups – whereas Bayern had played cautiously in the first leg, here they required a victory and necessarily played more adventurously. Thomas Müller was fielded as a supplementary striker, whereas Guardiola had previously used three midfielders, while the return of Gareth Bale ensured Real Madrid had yet another devastating weapon on the break.
But if the pattern was predictable, the sheer one-sidedness was remarkable. Real were rampant, and there were warning signs from the opening minutes, with Angel di María overlapping Ronaldo on the break in an almost identical situation to the movement shown by Fábio Coentrão for Real's goal in the first leg. Bayern started by playing more directly than we've come to expect, but then retreated into their shell and offered slow, patient and rather predictable passing football. Real simply sat deep in two banks of four, waited for Bayern moves to break down, then attacked at tremendous speed.
The use of that midfield quartet meant Ronaldo was able to play upfront alongside Benzema, and at transitions Bayern were simply unable to cope two-against-two at the back, with Jérôme Boateng and Dante lacking midfield protection. As Bayern were using a high defensive line, Manuel Neuer was forced to sweep up outside his box, twice getting his clearances wrong, allowing first Bale and then Ronaldo to attempt long-range efforts at an empty net – both were off target. When even Neuer, the ultra-dependable goalkeeper widely considered the best in the world, was unable to perform simple tasks which are usually second nature, it was clear Bayern were in for a difficult evening against Real's pace.
As vulnerable as Bayern were to counterattacking, however, their terrible set-piece defending was their most crucial failure. Twice Sergio Ramos headed into the net when unmarked, which represents a worrying regression from last season, when Bayern got their noses in front against Spanish opposition, Barcelona, at this stage because of their own set-piece power.
Indeed, it was something of a role reversal. Bayern were now playing the fruitless tiki-taka while their opponents powered their way in front from set plays, then turned a commanding lead into a rout with brilliant counterattacking. Real's third goal summed it up, with Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo motoring forward instantly when possession was won, constructing a lightning-fast break based around speed and selflessness.
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