The head raised sought eye contact with Vinicius. The curve of the body did not seem to portend anything, but the hand already indicated where the pass to the Brazilian would land.. The rivals had granted him a couple of meters and Toni Kroos did not waste the opportunity. His was the majestic assist yesterday for the 0-1 scoreline, the highlight of another great night for Real Madrid. «There are no words to define him. He is a top player, crucial for our game, because of the way he controls the timing and his passing,” admitted Carlo Ancelotti.

Carletto's happiness, like that of most of his footballers, was not only limited to the tie that had cooled the Allianz crater. It was, rather, the satisfaction of having re-emerged that competitive spirit with which to stay afloat after an extreme situation.. Because after three consecutive wins in Munich, the 14-time champion sweated again yesterday as appropriate in the semi-finals. The 2-2 not only gives him a certain advantage for the Bernabéu, but also allows him to equal his own record in the Champions League, where he already has 11 games without losing, equaling the record of the 2016-17 season.. Another reason to celebrate for the 4,000 Madrid fans who experienced it live in Munich. Those who enjoyed Vinicius' virguerías and Kim Minjae's rude mistakes. Those who chanted Kroos' mastery during the 76 minutes he stepped on the grass.

«He gave me a goal. I know him very well. And he to me,” Vinicius smiled, with that peculiar shine in his eyes.. He still seemed to savor the pleasure of the ball into space against Manuel Neuer and the unfortunate Minjae. A courtesy of Kroos, who during the first half completed an astonishing statistic. According to OPTA's accounting, 15 of his passes managed to break a rival line of pressure. The best rival in that aspect, Leon Goretzka, could only filter five.

“We needed to win the duels”

«During the first half we defended with little intensity and we gave them the possibility to control the game. We needed to win the duels, but after the break we put more pressure, we were more aggressive,” analyzed Ancelotti, without shame when pointing out his team's defects.. Before the 23rd minute was up, Bayern had already scored against Andriy Lunin seven times, including two corner kicks.. A fire raging to the beat of its drums. The usual thunderous artillery in the Allianz Arena, the lair of a team that, at this point in the season, has four points and six more goals in the Bundesliga than last year. Any contempt for Bayern in the Champions League should be paid for with excommunication. As intolerable as granting a couple of extra meters to Kroos.

Since that loan at Leverkusen, when he had barely come of age, Toni had played eight times against Bayern, but he had never even managed to score an assist.. Not even in the last two quarterfinal and semi-final ties (2017 and 2018), already in his Madrid fullness. Maybe that's why that gesture with which he showed the way to 0-1 left Rodrygo so speechless.. “What a pass, incredible!” exclaimed the striker, victim of a resounding penalty by Minjae.. «We always tell him to continue. Not one year, but many more. “I love playing with him,” added the Brazilian.. The recital on the 8th in Munich yesterday seemed like the prelude to something big at the Bernabéu. “We will still have to suffer, but now in an environment that everyone knows,” Ancelotti anticipated.. Vinicius, more concise, heralded a “magical night.”

Bayern had better get Matthijs de Ligt back soon, he dropped out at the last minute yesterday. His absence as a right-handed central defender left the area where Vinicius would hover against Joshua Kimmich a little more unguarded.. So Thomas Tuchel turned to Minjae, a central defender signed this year from Naples. Without the physical power of the Dutchman, with certain problems in the open field, the Korean would at least provide the good judgment offered during the first half of the season, where he had established himself as Bayern's best defender.

150 games for Müller

The dangers of Real Madrid, the Champions League's top scorer on the counterattack with six goals, were based on transitions, but Minjae never knew how to shape himself to hold Vinicius in the open field.. That weakness in Neuer's domain frustrated any threat of an epic for Tuchel. «Madrid has already done it before: score two goals on two occasions. We are not the first team to suffer from it. “We should have scored 3-1, but then we gave them a penalty,” admitted the former PSG coach.

From that 2016 league with Dortmund, to the unforgettable 2022 tie at the head of Chelsea, Tuchel had always known how to put Madrid in front of the defile. Therefore, a situation as desperate as the current one made his team an even more dangerous rival.. The initial choice of Thomas Müller, to the detriment of Serge Gnabry, was a somewhat nostalgic bet, with which the captain was able to celebrate his 150th Champions League match.. A milestone in the competition, equaling Iker Casillas' record in Madrid. The absolute record for matches in the same club is still held by Xavi Hernández (151).

The influence of Müller, relegated in recent times to an almost residual role, could only be interpreted from an emotional point of view.. Because Tuchel reserved the opportunity for Raphael Guerreiro, one of the most underrated footballers in the Champions League.. The mere presence of the Portuguese ordered Bayern's offensive, which was able to guide Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané towards the goal. The difference between playing on a natural foot or a changed foot radically changed the game.

You had to go back to October, against Darmstadt 98 on matchday nine of the Bundesliga, to witness Sané's last goal. But since he has plenty of talent, the Schalke youth player took advantage of Rodrygo's lack of involvement to silence the critics.. From the other profile, Musiala was already abusing Lucas Vázquez. At just 21 years old, he already feels capable of dominating a Champions League semi-final.

The appointment of Clement Turpin, with whom Madrid had won all six of their games, caused some discomfort in Germany.. However, nothing could be objected to the Frenchman, who without hesitation pointed out the 11 meters after Lucas's knockdown of Musiala and Minjae's knockdown of Rodrygo. «For the return we have to be more clinical. It will be an open match. We have to improve our individual defenses and be stronger,” concluded Tuchel.

As his teammates made their way to the field, he lingered in front of the Allianz Arena stands, gazing at the 4,000 Madrid fans who filled the last remaining section. With a sense of pride, he turned around and revealed his name and number on the back of his jersey, “Vini Jr.”, “7”. It was the perfect finishing touch to an extraordinary performance by the striker, one that etched his name into the annals of European football history.

Among the plethora of talented footballers that Brazil has produced and sent to Europe, none can boast of more goals and assists than Vinicius Júnior in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. Not Ronaldo Nazario, not Ronaldinho, not Kaká, not Neymar, and not even legendary figures like Romario or Rivaldo. Vinicius surpasses them all with his impressive tally of 10 goals and 12 assists.

In the match against Bayern, Vinicius added Munich to the list of cities where he has left an indelible mark in the history of the European Cup. At just 23 years old, he has scored or assisted at prestigious venues like the Etihad, Anfield, and Stamford Bridge. He even netted a goal in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool.

In total, he has scored 2 goals against Bayern, 5 goals and 2 assists against Liverpool, 2 goals and 3 assists against City, 1 goal and 5 assists against Chelsea, and 1 goal and 1 assist against PSG. Not to mention the assists he provided against Ajax and Atalanta and a goal he scored against Leipzig. And what’s remarkable is that all of these contributions came in the playoff stages, demonstrating his ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most.

Last night, he brilliantly converted Kroos’ exceptional pass and bravely stepped up to take the penalty that secured Madrid’s position in the tie. The penalty was dispatched with the same power and precision of Cristiano Ronaldo, the last Real Madrid player to achieve a brace at the Allianz Arena back in April 2017. “Bravo, CR7/Vini7,” Lucas Vázquez posted on social media. And it’s not just his finishing ability that draws praise; Ancelotti commended his intelligent movement off the ball and his composure in front of the opposition goal.

Regarding his partnership with Kroos, Vinicius remarked, “Toni always makes everything very easy and he gave me a goal. We train a lot together, and we understand each other very well. I’m thrilled to have scored two goals tonight. It’s a magical night for us at home.” The young striker believes that avoiding defeat is crucial in this tournament, stating, “That’s why we are here. We want to achieve great things and reach the final.”

Vini could have kept the jersey he wore on such a special night, but he graciously gave it to Bryan Zaragoza, an old acquaintance from LaLiga who now plays for Bayern. Vinicius’ standout performances have been instrumental in Madrid’s undefeated run in the Champions League this season. Ancelotti’s men have played 11 matches so far, winning 7 and drawing 4. Interestingly, all four draws have come consecutively, namely the second leg against Leipzig, both legs against City, and the first leg in Munich. “The result is good,” admitted Ancelotti, “but we could have done better. Our best moments were at the start of the second half, but they managed to score two goals against us… Vinicius showed his best version, but we didn’t. We still have time to improve before the next match on Wednesday.”

Ancelotti revealed that Bellingham experienced cramps in the second half, prompting his substitution. However, he expressed confidence in the midfielder’s ability to recover quickly and perform at his best. Bellingham himself reassured everyone, stating, “I’m fine,” as he passed through the mixed zone.

Interestingly, Bellingham had a brief exchange with his compatriot Harry Kane before taking the penalty that put Madrid ahead 2-1. Kane revealed, “He told me he was going to shoot to the left and that he would inform the goalkeeper. Luckily, I noticed Lunin diving slightly to the right, so I opted to shoot to the left instead.”

If April happens to be the most difficult month, as famously described by a poet, it is likely because it often brings forth a Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich. For Real Madrid fans, it feels like an eternal cycle of springs lost in Munich, either for better or worse, with hopes of triumphant May or the anticipation of the following April.

To avoid missing out on the traditional clash filled with trepidation, Lunin had to make a crucial save within the first minute. This set the tone for fifteen minutes of relentless German pressure.

Madrid should never have settled for a draw in Munich. Despite being a much more talented team than Bayern, they always seem to be held back by Ancelotti’s lack of daring. It was only thanks to Vinicius’ heroics that they managed to avoid a humiliating defeat by two goals. Such a result would have been shameful.

Madrid cannot afford to display timidity in such crucial matches. The beginning of the match could have easily turned into a catastrophe. The weakened Bayern had the potential to score two or three goals in quick succession. It is imperative for Madrid to show their true strength and not allow themselves to be overawed by their opponents.

“It was a threat and they took it as such in the locker room”. Yesterday, Real Madrid's landing in Munich brought back many memories on the expedition. Just 10 years ago, on April 29, 2014, the city where they were going to “burn up the trees”, as Rummenigge had warned, saw the white team achieve one of the great victories in its history in the European Cup , the first in the Bayern camp, the one that opened the portal to La Décima and the one that “changed everything”, they now admit in the club, on the path of a prodigious decade.

Only Carvajal, Nacho, Modric and Lucas Vázquez remain from that squad. Although he did not play in any official match that season, he did train with the first team, but the spirit of that night is still present in the coaching staff and in the Madrid management.. “Rummenigge says that the trees are going to burn, but right now I see that it is raining,” said Carlo Ancelotti ironically in the preview of that second leg.. Curiously, both have had a great friendship since the German's time at Inter in the eighties, and the manager ended up in tears when he had to fire Carletto from Bayern in 2017.

Today, ten years and five Champions Leagues after 0-4, the transalpine player once again guides the whites to the assault on the German city. Before hell for Madrid, now a “respected” rival, but without the philias and phobias of other times. All thanks to that win.

The emotional slab

The whites reached that tie after losing three years in a row in the semifinals. An emotional slab that ended Mourinho's era. The first was against Barça, but the last two, against Bayern and Dortmund, were the most painful. The reader will remember that penalty shootout at the Bernabéu, in 2012. The pitchers were Cristiano, Kaká, Xabi Alonso and Ramos. Only the Donostiarra scored. Things of destiny. Mourinho, kneeling on the grass, couldn't believe it.

In 2013, Madrid lost 4-1 in Dortmund and tried for an epic at home, but football denied them. The following year, with Ancelotti now in charge, chance crossed him again with Bayern, to which he was linked by an eternal condemnation of confrontations in Europe: defeat in the semifinals of 75-76 and 86-87, victory in the quarterfinals of 87-88, victory in the semifinals of 99-00, defeat in the semifinals of 00-01, victory in the quarterfinals of 01-02, victory in the round of 16 of 03-04, defeat in the second round of 06-07 and defeat in the semis of 11-12. That is, of the nine qualifying rounds, Madrid passed in four and was left out in five. It might not be a dramatic percentage, but the phobia came when analyzing the duels on German soil. The whites had not won any of the ten games in Munich.

“That phrase touched the soul”

Perhaps for that reason, because he knew that the statistics were in his favor, in 2014 Rummenigge said a phrase that stuck in the minds of that locker room.. «We must give them a hot bath. “In Munich even the trees are going to burn.”. Bathroom and fire. “That phrase, that threat, reached the soul of the squad,” they remember today in Valdebebas, where the pressure to achieve La Décima was enormous.

“Obsession”, as they define it, for that Champions League, Rummenigge's phrase, Guardiola's comments calling them “athletes” and the three semi-finals lost with Mourinho enraged a squad full of hunger that consummated its revenge, against Bayern and against Luck, April 29, 2014 at the Allianz Arena. Two goals from Ramos and two from Cristiano, two of those who had missed in that round in 2012.

«The Champions League owed me one after those penalties. I was worried because I was prepared, but it is a dream to play in the final,” he warned, without knowing what fate had in store for him.

Ancelotti's request to Bale

“It is better not to say anything,” Rummenigge replied in the stands.. “It has been a debacle”. The international media spoke of “humiliation” and “ridiculousness”. In Valdebebas, the coaching staff still remembers Ancelotti's request to Bale: “90 minutes of sacrifice for Lisbon”. The Italian changed the system with respect to the first leg and went to 4-4-2 with Bale and Di María on the wings and Cristiano and Benzema as nines. The Welshman's effort helping Carvajal was key.

A couple of years later, Guardiola admitted that that second leg was “my biggest mistake as a coach”. A match that led to Kroos signing for Madrid that summer and that became a turning point towards a glorious decade, with the three consecutive Champions Leagues as its culmination.

It was also a giant blow for Bayern, who during these years have not been able to beat Madrid. After four games and two ties, they have gone 12 years without winning against the whites, who have won their last three visits to Allianz (0-4, 1-2 in 16-17 and 1-2 in 17-18) .

Super Tuesday at the Caja Mágica will see Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz come together, marking their first time playing in the same tournament since November 2022 in Paris-Bercy. Nadal, the five-time champion of the Madrid Masters 1000, will face off against Jiri Lehecka, while Alcaraz, the winner of the last two editions, will have a rest day before his next match. Nadal expressed his respect for Lehecka’s skills, acknowledging his powerful serve and hard shots from the baseline. However, Nadal will have to navigate the challenge of recovering within a short timeframe, as he plays in the night session. Despite this, Nadal remains positive and looks forward to watching a football match after his own game.

Nadal’s journey in the tournament has been marked by overcoming hurdles, as he faced a tough match against Pedro Cachín, ultimately triumphing in three hours and four minutes. Nadal sees this as a step forward in his preparation for Roland Garros. He acknowledges the progress he has made since being in Manacor, where he struggled physically and lost to academy juniors. However, Nadal also raises doubts about the challenge of playing two consecutive days, noting it as unfamiliar territory in his recovery process.

In his final year in Madrid, Nadal is determined to take to the court and perform in front of the audience, whom he has always praised as the best. He emphasizes the difference between this year and previous ones, knowing that his body is more unpredictable after a two-year hiatus from playing. The schedule for the day had initially been planned to allow Nadal and Alcaraz to watch a football match but was changed due to the length and intensity of Nadal’s match. Instead, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Bublik will open the day’s matches.

To survive a season in which there is nothing more at stake than pride, Barça needed intelligence. A lot of it. Three times they utilized their superior expertise to outplay Valencia, scoring goals from corner kicks, recovering from their own mistakes with a header from Fermín and a hat trick from Lewandowski from a set piece. [Narrative and statistics (4-2)]

The culés were determined to celebrate Xavi’s continuation on a disappointing night that saw a series of errors from both teams. Valencia attempted to resist, relying on finding weaknesses in the culé defense whenever possible. This is where Peter Federico exploited Cubarsi’s coverage of Cancelo’s mistakes and challenged Ter Stegen with little success, much to the Catalans’ relief.

Fermín, on the other hand, had a clearer view as he soared through the air to head in a precise cross from Raphinha. It took Barça 22 minutes to decipher Baraja’s plans, and now they only had to manage them. However, things unraveled in the most unexpected way.

Despite being one of Barça’s most reliable players, Ter Stegen’s 12 clean sheets did not prevent him from making a poor clearance outside the penalty area, which ended up becoming an unintentional assist for Hugo Duro to meekly score. The game restarted, and before they knew it, another blow came. This time, Araujo overwhelmed Peter Federico, leading to a penalty that Pepelu did not miss. In just ten minutes, due to unforced errors, Valencia seemed to have the game in their grasp.

Xavi addressed the vulnerability on the left wing by sending Koundé to defend, while demanding an increase in intensity. Cancelo attempted a shot to the near post that Mamardashvili saved. The signs suggested that Valencia would struggle to hold their ground, as confirmed when Araujo’s header hit the post. Mamardashvili’s subsequent error unleashed the onslaught from Barça.

Yarek relied on him to relieve the pressure, waiting for the end of the first half. However, when Lamine Yamal pressured him, the Georgian goalkeeper made an error by using his body… and his hand. The VAR had to intervene, but Mamardashvili knew that his game was over. Valencia, relying on Jaume Domenech, had to endure.

Controversy and a siege

This was confirmed when, after the break, the siege continued. De Burgos failed to see a penalty in a clash between Iñigo Martínez and Peter Federico, and Lewandowski scored the equalizer, once again capitalizing on a corner kick, with a controversial offside position and Fermín’s influence.

Xavi had bolstered the Basque defense and midfield with Sergi Roberto. This adjustment was necessary as Raphinha, Fermín, and strategic plays engaged Barça in every match. Valencia had few weapons to overcome even the slightest setback.

They ran, fought, and tried to force errors, but with a disadvantage, it was an overwhelming task, even for the unyielding Hugo Duro, with little assistance from a Puerto Rican loaned from Real Madrid. Nevertheless, they attempted to hinder Barça’s progress to no avail. They had no choice but to withstand the relentless onslaught of corner kicks.

Jaume saved Araujo’s shot, Yarek saved Gündogan’s shot, but Pedri had to intervene to prevent Diego López from scoring when facing Ter Stegen. However, Valencia had no options left. Lewandowski emerged once again, scoring with another header, and delivering a final blow with a free kick that condemned them.

“Few here thought that I could be in this press room”. In the second response to the press conference, Carlo Ancelotti sent a message to those who listened to him. The Italian coach vindicated himself before playing in a new semi-final, the third in a row since he returned to Real Madrid. That’s how overwhelming the weight of history is, as he himself recalled when analyzing Bayern. “We have a lot of respect, they have had a spectacular tie against Arsenal and we have to look at that, the quality and history of this club, which is more or less the same as ours. And the history in the Champions League counts for a lot,” he declared.

There is one doubt above any other in their lineup this Wednesday: the name of the player who will accompany Antonio Rüdiger in the center of defense. And from his answer to a question about Tchouaméni, it seems that he could be the Frenchman, who would take the place of Nacho and Militao. “Tchouaméni will play. Where? “I don’t know,” he commented.. The Italian is not going to seat either Valverde or Kroos, and it would be very strange to see him do without Camavinga, so the only position that remains free is that of central defender. “Is Tchouaméni undefeated as a starter? Well, we won in Manchester on penalties without him,” he joked. “He will play,” he insisted.

The coach announced that he will not improvise. “There are two types of coaches, those who do nothing and those who harm their team. “I try to be among the first,” he admitted with a laugh.. “I know that I have been unfair in all the games, that is my role. “I can’t think about that.”

“I went to bed with regret”

Furthermore, the transalpine player explained the situation of Jeremy de León, the Puerto Rican footballer who has traveled with Madrid to Manchester and Munich despite not being called up.. Questioned about the theories of some fans, who believe that he does it out of a kind of superstition, Ancelotti was clear: “It is not because of a cabal. There are 19 players available and we need 10 and 10 to train. “We took Jeremy because talking to Raúl they told us that he trains well, is very serious and has a lot of quality.”

Previously, Fede Valverde had explained the reasons that led him to say “no” to taking a penalty during the shoot-out against Manchester City. “I went to bed with regret because I could have had the opportunity to leave that mark on Madrid, but I am one of those who likes to qualify no matter what and there are times when one has to put that pride aside and say ‘I’m not as prepared as I thought.’ Fatigue played tricks on me and the best thing that came to mind was to tell the coaching staff that I was not prepared to take the penalty. In the future I would love to prepare so that this does not happen again and be mentally prepared to shoot,” he reflected.

Monte Carlo Ancelotti’s redemption in press conference

The issue is not just Madrid winning the Champions League, it’s the predictability of their victory. It’s the sense of inevitability that looms over the competition. From the moment they miraculously triumphed in Manchester to the final showdown at Wembley, we live through the process day after day, feeling frustrated that there are no Bayerns or Mbappés to challenge them, leaving us with little hope. It’s almost like it’s better to skip the games and go watch a movie instead.

As anti-Madrid fans, we all knew that Madrid would clinch La Enésima the moment they started resisting any form of challenge.

Betis needed a win and to avoid a loss in the derby against Sevilla, but found themselves challenged by their European rivals. Quique Sánchez Flores’ team faced tough competition from the green and white side and managed to secure a point. Although the point didn’t benefit Sevilla, it allowed Betis to emerge as the victorious team in a match where Isco set the pace. [Narrative and statistics]

When celebrating his goal, Isco seemed to have forgotten about his past with Sevilla and embraced his green and white identity. His time in Nervión wasn’t pleasant, and he took revenge by defeating his eternal rival. Sevilla arrived at Villamarín with three victories under their belt, eager to puncture Betis’ European aspirations, the only consolation they have in a lackluster season. However, they found themselves overwhelmed with various challenges. Quique had devised a plan to neutralize Isco, the driving force behind Betis’ game, but his plans were disrupted by Isaac Romero’s injury and the need to rely on a clueless Lukébakio, who made unbelievable mistakes, including missing a header from an open goal after Ocampos’ shot hit the post.

Sevilla attempted to make their way towards Rui Silva’s goal, but after half an hour, Betis started to gain momentum, especially with Isco leading the way. A well-placed cross from Isco found Bakambu, which resulted in Nyland having to clear the ball at Fornals’ feet. Unfortunately for Fornals, Sergio Ramos prevented him from scoring. Betis continued to push, and Lukébakio scored a goal by turning before another center from Fornals, which struck his hand. Despite some doubts, Sánchez Martínez, along with VAR, pointed to the penalty spot, and Isco made no mistake in converting it.

Sevilla went into halftime feeling defeated and on the verge of receiving another blow when Bakambu sprinted from his own half to chase a long pass from Miranda and face the Sevilla goalkeeper. Nyland couldn’t stop him but managed to force Bakambu off the field. Nyland had to make a vital save from a shot by Ayoze, who skillfully maneuvered past Badé.

The intensity of the match escalated when Quique made a tactical change to chase the equalizer, and Kike Salas delivered by scoring a powerful header. Betis demanded another penalty for Badé’s slap on Isco, but VAR clarified that it was not punishable this time.

Rather than settling, Sevilla focused on containing the relentless momentum created by Betis, fueled by the support of 55,000 passionate fans. Betis took the lead through Isco’s boots, who scored against Nyland after receiving a crucial assist from Fekir in the heart of the box. The victory seemed within reach as Abde’s header hit the crossbar, followed by Chadi Riad’s attempt. However, neither team managed to claim the victory in this fiercely contested derby, as nobody wanted to suffer a defeat.