Features
Three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich | UEFA Champions League
Of all of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final ties, the fixture between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich is perhaps the one that draws the most attention.
The two clubs, after all, have a rich history of facing each other in crunch games in the competition. While Real Madrid historically have a superior record, the Germans are the most in-form team in world football.
Over the next week, the two teams will face off twice to decide who progresses to the semi-final of the elite competition, and both teams will see it as an absolute must to reach that stage.
While there is a general sense that it is Bayern Munich’s year this time around, Real Madrid will go all out in the Champions League now given that their situation in La Liga is no longer as amicable.
The UCL, thus, may well be their only remaining shot at a trophy this season, and Alvaro Arbeloa’s men will take to the field knowing that there is no option other than to go all the way in Europe for them to pick up silverware.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich.
Picking up from a loose start
Having won five games in a row for the first time since early January, Real Madrid ended club football on the best possible note before the international break.
The hope, needless to say, was to carry on the same momentum once they return from the break, especially given how the business end of the season awaited them.
After all that, however, Los Blancos returned and lost their first game after the break, that too to relegation-threatened Mallorca in La Liga. That leaves them in a situation where they are far from where they would have liked to be.
Now, they stare at their biggest game in the season coming off one of their most disappointing performances this season, and it is far from what they would have liked. However, they now have no option but to pick up from a loose start.
Turning the tide around, letting bygones be bygones, and turning a new leaf will be critical as Real Madrid take on Bayern Munich tomorrow. While that has never usually been a problem for the club in the UCL, it is critical that the new young side echo the same idea.
The biggest defensive challenge
Of all the teams Real Madrid have faced over the past two seasons, Barcelona perhaps boast the strongest attacking lineup and the results of recent Clasicos speak volumes on how Los Blancos have struggled against the same.
Barring the win early this season over Hansi Flick’s side, Real Madrid have not had it easy defending against the Catalans’ red-hot attack and have often been left red-faced and helpless.
Bayern Munich’s attack this season is a notch above even Barcelona’s attacking firepower, and it is clear that Real Madrid will face their biggest defensive challenge in a long time tomorrow.
The Germans have already scored 100 goals in the Bundesliga after just 28 games this season and have a staggering 40 goals more than the next-highest scoring side. Harry Kane himself has 31 goals, Luis Diaz 15, and Michael Olise 11 in the competition.
In the UEFA Champions League, the Bavarians had 22 goals in the group stage but showed their true colours in the Round of 16 when they faced Atalanta over two legs.
The aggregate scoreline after 180 minutes read 10-2 in Bayern Munich’s favour, clearly showing what threat they bring in the final third.
Real Madrid’s defence has not been great all season, and for all the talk about Barcelona’s high-defensive line and vulnerabilities, Los Blancos have conceded just one goal less in La Liga.
Taking on Bayern Munich, extra-emphasis must be placed on the defence and Alvaro Arbeloa will need the likes of Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rudiger to bring their A games. After all, even a small lapse in concentration can prove costly.
A home advantage to capitalise on
Bayern Munich enter the game against Real Madrid as the favourites, and while recent form may not usually serve as a factor in such high-stakes matches, it is clear that the German champions are the better-rounded side.
In that sense, Real Madrid will have to do everything right if they are to knock the Bavarians out, and it all starts with taking a decisive lead at home.
The first-leg being at the Santiago Bernabeu hands the team a chance to put the pressure on Bayern Munich with a positive result. They must thus focus on securing a decent lead, for the second leg at the Allianz Arena will see Bayern Munich as even bigger favourites.
A lot will depend on whether Arbeloa opts for an attacking dynamic or prefers to allow the visitors to keep the possession and just hit out on the counter-attack.
The combination of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., and Kylian Mbappe, moreover, will be vital on the night and Arbeloa needs his biggest stars to produce their brightest moments.
Needless to say, the fans in the stands will play their role more importantly than ever before for it is crucial that the atmosphere is hostile towards the visiting side.
Real Madrid made a mess of their game against Elche last night, and it is clear that the men in white have several flaws with no answers at the moment.
From being 2-0 up, the men in white bottled their lead and threw the game into jeopardy by permitting Elche to score two goals. The result, as many saw it, was set to end in a draw.
With some persistent attacks in the dying minutes, however, Real Madrid managed to build pressure on Elche and eventually scored one more goal at the death to take home the three points.
Needless to say, however, the negatives from the game far outweigh the positive news of the three points.
Madrid Universal brings you three takeaways from Elche 2-3 Real Madrid.
Another second-half collapse
After Real Madrid’s win over Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, Jose Mourinho stressed the fact that Real Madrid actually played only one half and that the fatigue began showing after the break.
On the night, the opposition began to enjoy more dominance and create chances after half-time as they outran and outpressed Los Blancos to good effect.
Last night was no different, and the second half went completely awry.
The men in white entered the half-time break cruising with a 2-0 lead and significant dominance over the proceedings. They had a massive xG, with Elche barely creating any chances of note.
After the break, however, the entire dynamic of the game changed as Real Madrid took a step back and handed the impetus to the hosts. Pressing high and attacking without fear, Elche dominated Real Madrid for most of the second half and had a staggering 60% of possession.
They scored twice – in the 71st and 83rd minutes – and equalised Real Madrid on the night. Given the visitors’ shambolic display, it was deserved for Elche.
At this point, the constant second-half collapses and fatigue struggles of the team after just 45 minutes of action must worry Jose Mourinho immensely. Heading into a derby away from home, Real Madrid have to do much better.
The away curse continues
While Real Madrid’s form at home has been imperious this season, their form away from home has been equally shocking.
They began their season with a last-minute win over Espanyol, and their second league game of the season on the road came against Real Betis and ended in defeat.
Heading into their third away game last night, there was an element of worry about how they would perform, and the trend continued once more.
Real Madrid did well to take the lead on the night, but they made the second half a massive war and far more difficult than it should have been.
At this point, serious questions have to be raised about Real Madrid’s form on the road and their inability to keep games under control when playing in away stadiums.
Heading forward in the season, Los Blancos have some massive away games coming up against far more difficult opposition. The Madrid derby is up next, and the team’s form is nothing promising heading into that fixture.
Carlos Espi saves the day… again!
Real Madrid are currently on 15 points after six games in the league, but Carlos Espi has directly contributed to a massive chunk of that.
If not for the new Spanish striker’s ability to come up clutch in big moments, Real Madrid could well have been on just 11 points at this stage in the season, and the four points he has added are absolutely crucial.
Against Espanyol, it was Espi who scored a stoppage-time winner to hand Real Madrid all three points after a complicated match. Last night, he repeated the same heroics once more.
With the team staring at a draw, the new signing was at the right place at the right time to bury Kylian Mbappe’s assist in stoppage time, handing Real Madrid all three points at the death.
He may not have played a large part on the night, but his cameo was again powerful and it is clear that he elevates the team’s attack and provides new solutions in front of goal. Espi has already proven his talent, and his ability to perform under pressure is what makes him special.
