IT’S OVER TO the Allianz Arena for the first semi-final second leg of this season’s Champions League.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail adrian@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
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Full-time: Bayern Munich 0 (0) v Real Madrid 4 (5)
Letsbehavinya then, fellow European football fans. Two names at the very top of the Champions League roll of honour face off tonight in Munich. And we’re going minute-by-minute.
Things are delicately poised with Real Madrid winning the first leg 1-0 last week in Spain. Can Pep Guardiola mastermind another famous win and guide the champions back to the final once again?
Who wants the teams then?
Gareth Bale is back in the Real Madrid starting line-up. The Welshman came off the bench in the second half of Real’s 1-0 first-leg win in Madrid last Wednesday despite suffering from flu and missed Saturday’s 4-0 Spanish league win at home to Osasuna.
Ronaldo has suffered with niggling injuries recently but scored twice against Osasuna, and those two form a potent forward line alongside France’s Karim Benzema in the middle.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola switched captain Philipp Lahm to right-back with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos playing together in central midfield.
Thomas Mueller, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery were all named behind Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic.
There was no place in Bayern’s starting line-up though for Mario Goetze or Spanish international Javi Martinez, with both named on the bench.
Bayern’s Mandzukic and Real’s Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso all know a booking at the Allianz Arena would see them miss out on playing in the final on May 24 should their sides progress.
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm (capt), Jerome Boateng, Dante, David Alaba; Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos; Arjen Robben, Thomas Mueller, Franck Ribery; Mario Mandzukic
Real Madrid (4-3-3) Iker Casillas (capt); Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao; Luka Modric, Xabi Alonso, Angel di Maria; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo
Pep Guardiola is wearing a polo jumper under a blazer. And he looks magnificent:
Serious tifo tekkers from the Bayern fans:
A minute’s silence for former Real Madrid coach Vujadin Boskov as well as Pep Guardiola’s one-time assistant and Barcelona successor, Tito Villanova:
And we’re off. The experts are agreed; Andy Townsend on the telly and Ben here in the office have gone for Real to go through. Who do you fancy?
Gareth Bale is no Jonjo Shelvey. Manuel Neuer came flying out to head clear outside his box and the ball fell to the former Spurs winger. He blasted over.
The champions need three goals to stay in the competition.
The visitors are ahead thanks to a powerful header from Sergio Ramos who rose highest to meet a Luka Modric corner. This will be Pep’s biggest test.
Sergio Ramos has scored twice in four minutes and they’ve both been headers. The Spain centre half got the last touch after a cross into the Bayern box.
There’s no way back from this right?
Andy Townsend’s advice to Ramos who’ll miss the final if he picks up another yellow: stay on your feet.
Somewhere in west London, Ray Wilkins shout ‘that’s my line’ at the telly.
As Joe Hart might say: wowzers.
Cristiano has scored the third goal of the night for Real Madrid through a superb and typical breakaway.
Benzema squared for Gareth Bale who thundered through the middle, he layed it off for Ronaldo and the Ballon d’Or winner sent it past Neuer.
Three up and Xavi Alonso has earned himself a stupid yellow card. The former Liverpool man dived in on Bastian Schweinsteiger needlessly and now looks properly gutted, understandably.
Here’s that third goal by the way. Check out the celebration which you’ll be seeing a lot of in the nightclubs around Ireland this long weekend:
Half-time. And that has been traumatic for the Bundesliga champions. What did you make of that then?
Over to Roy (and the others):
Ribery lost the head a bit in the first half. But I’d be throwing slaps too if I was three-nil down after half an hour.
Keane says Bayern ‘need to take their medicine’ in the second half or it could be even more embarrassing.
Not a whole lot happening here really. Bayern have had plenty of possession since they came out for the second half over 10 minutes ago but they haven’t been able to find that killer final ball. Pep must wish for the days of Xavi and Iniesta.
Arjen Robben took it upon himself to try to force an opening with a customary cut inside and curling shot but it flew wide.
Comment below from Les Rock: “Is it just me or does anyone else think its wrong for someone to miss the final over a couple of yellow cards? A red yeah… but for a couple of yellows”
What do you think? Alonso is sound too.
Sergio Ramos will play in this season’s Champions League final, it looks like. Ancelotti has at last called the card-prone defender ashore before he does himself a mischief.
Meanwhile in London…
Well this escalated quickly
Is it just me or does anyone else think its wrong for someone to miss the final over a couple of yellow cards? A red yeh..but for a couple of yellows
Tika taka me hole.
Bayern look an absolute mess.
Cracking display from the Bayern Fans. Love big European nights like this
Wheres everyone calling Ramos sh!te now? ;)
Good player no doubt. Wish he’d lnock off the nonsense in fairness
Bayern are a shadow of last year, with almost the same team. Guardiola has sucked the life out of them.
Madrid are very impressive but this rolling about and faking injury is very annoying to watch. They are up 4 nil and still diving around.
Suarez will fit in well at Madrid next season, being a cheating diver .
Game over..
Hala Madrid :D
Happy with that result, never thought it would be that big a margin but Bayern just weren’t up to the attacking we had.
Hope its a full “Madrid” game, don’t want Jose anywhere near a CL final, will park the house, hearse, shop and bus in front of the goal.
Better acting in this match than the Christmas panto
This was inevitable, Bayern have gone to sleep since winning the league. Love to see a Real v Chelsea final now , 10 men behind the ball against 10 in front of it
I dont think Chelsea could hold them out for 90mins.
Chelsea would make it a horrible final no thanks, derby final all day for me.
Chelsea have been in 2 CL finals in recent years and that’s enough.
and both were shite
08 final was decent
Humble manager + goal scorers = UEFA champion league title. Thank you Ancelotti.
You made my day.
The odds being offered on a real win look pathetic now!! :D 10/3
Fact couldn’t believe it, 10/3 with pp, €30 on the nose! Crazy odds!
There’s definitely a red card or two in this.
Game set and match
Madrid-Chelsea final, you heard it here first!
I fancy a Madrid-Madrid final!
With athleti winning
Bayern to win 2-1, real will qualify.
More red cards than goals id say
Athletico Madrid are gone to 7to2 for the champions league. Good bet
Thought bayern,would put up more of a fight but fair play to Madrid