Real Madrid 2 – 2 Bayern Munich: match recap from the Champions League
By Alex McVey
First Half
From a Madrid perspective, the first half was 45 minutes of absolute terror punctuated by a brief exhalation of relief. Bayern Munich knew they needed to come out and score early, and score early they did. Madrid experienced a brief moment of chaos in the box and Bayern exploited as the ball fell to Joshua Kimmich who has now scored in both legs of the semifinals against Madrid. Alaba and Ribery terrorized makeshift right-back Lucas Vazquez throughout the first half and posed a constant danger to Madrid.
Real looked to respond quickly, but found themselves pinned back by an energetic press from Bayern. Fortunately, it only takes Madrid a few second to tear a team apart. In the eleventh minute, Kovacic found himself in the center of Bayern’s half, dished out to Marcelo on the left, who sent a pin-point cross in to Benzema. Bayern’s defense got caught looking on the left as Benzema found space in the box on the right, and headed in an equalizing goal past Ulreich.
The rest of the first half, though, carried on mostly in Bayern’s favor. Often Los Blancos struggled to find an outlet, having to rely on back-passes to Keylor Navas to recirculate possession. When Madrid did manage to find Asensio on the break, Bayern exercised discipline in marshaling the young Spaniard off the ball. Luka Modric tried to do absolutely everything, functioning basically as a second right-back in support of Vazquez while also operating as one of Madrid’s sole outlets in possession on the right hand side of midfield.
Despite a few chances from Asensio and one good shot from Ronaldo, Bayern were in total control on the pitch. The half-time whistle simply could not have come at better time, as Madrid were incredibly lucky to go into the locker room with an equal score.