Bayern Munich 1 – 2 Real Madrid – UCL match recap

Real Madrid defeated Bayern Munich 2-1 after a chaotic first half and a disciplined second half. Here’s your match recap from the Champions League.

Lineup

Zinedine Zidane has been notoriously unpredictable with his lineup this season. The idea of the once de gala – an undisputed starting XI lineup to be used in the biggest matches of the season – seems to be a thing of the past for Zidane.

Against Bayern Munich, Zizou shocked the world by leaving both Karim Benzema AND Gareth Bale on the bench, opting instead to start Isco and Lucas Vazquez alongside Ronaldo in the attack. While the rest of the lineup remained pretty much consistent, with Navas, Marcelo, Carvajal, Ramos and Varane in defense, and Kroos, Modric, and Casemiro in midfield.

It is perhaps not shocking that Zidane ultimately opted for Lucas Vazquez instead of Bale or Benzema. But what is shocking is that this lineup seems to put Cristiano Ronaldo as the lone striker position. Zidane typically has played Ronaldo alongside of one of either Bale or Benzema. When Vazquez does get a start in a big match, it’s usually with Asensio on the alternate flank. Zidane seemed to be going with a truly unique experimental lineup in one of Madrid’s biggest matches of the season.