szólj hozzá: Real-Bayern Full highlights HD
David Alaba's handball should never have been. It was inadvertent for which the left back received a yellow card which leaves him out of the Champions League final against Chelsea. Cristiano Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot. The Bernabeu erupted again as Ronaldo made it a brace after Mesut Oezil dissected the Bayern defense with his through pass. But with the attacking talent at Bayern's disposal a 2-0 scoreline could not be considered safe as both teams came out swinging in the first half.
This Real Madrid team has its share of cool talent but there are players in their side who evolution has left untouched. Amongst them Pepe and Sergio Ramos and you can always count on one or both to make a bone headed contribution that proves fatal. That came in the 27th minute when Pepe felled Mario Gomez in the box. Robben scored the all important away goal to tie the aggregate at 3-3.
The zip and zest in the first half was gone in the second half replaced by a cagey affair as both teams seemed reluctant to concede what could be the defining goal. But Bayern looked the more authoritative on attack with the sure footed Gomez uncharacteristically flubbing an easy chance in front of goal. It was Real looking a bit nervy going back to defend. They also looked leggy after the draining El Clasico encounter over the weekend.
Gustavo who had been merrily fouling away without any booking received his comeuppance after seemingly bringing down Oezil. Replays showed he had actually executed a superb tackle to get all ball. The booking was costly as he joined Holger Badstuber and Alaba further depleting Bayern of key personnel for the finals.
Extra time came and went without incident. It was onto the penalties and a test of mental fortitude and determination to get that win (read Germans). An occasion for both goalies to show their skill and mettle. In this showdown both Iker Casillas and Manuel Neuer were superb but the difference was the German had the tougher saves to effect especially Ronaldo's in which he cranked up all the power. And then came Sergio Ramos's bumbling attempt which will be replayed all over the world. The ball is in orbit having become Jupiter's latest satellite.
Somehow it brings to mind the butter fingers Ramos displayed in dropping the Copa Del Rey atop the bus and the trophy was crushed. It relieved all the pressure of seeing Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm miss their chances badly. Bastian Schweinsteiger made no mistake with his winning spot kick. Jose Mourinho disappeared without a word down the tunnel.
Leave a comment