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Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo roll Real Madrid past Bayern Munich Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo roll Real Madrid past Bayern Munich
(about 2 hours later)
At long last, Real Madrid can almost touch La Décima. This was an occasion when the they had been confronted by tension, the weight of history, curses and a Bayern Munich team who were supposed to pass them to death. Yet Carlo Ancelotti, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and, yes, Gareth Bale, sliced through it all with a performance of such swashbuckling brilliance that Bayern were reduced to a directionless mess. At long last, Real Madrid can almost touch La Decima. This was an occasion when the Spanish club had been confronted by tension, the weight of history, curses and a Bayern Munich team that were supposed to pass them to death. Yet Carlo Ancelotti, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and, yes, Gareth Bale sliced through it all with a performance of such swashbuckling brilliance that Pep Guardiola's Bayern side were reduced to rubble.
It was in 2002 that Zinedine Zidane sculpted the volley against Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park to help Madrid to their ninth European Cup. The wait for the 10th has pushed the boundaries even of obsession. The narrative for Madrid has taken in too much semi-final heartache and too many managers sacked. It was in 2002 that Zinedine Zidane sculpted the volley against Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park to help Real to their ninth European Cup. The wait for the 10th has pushed the boundaries even of obsession. The narrative for Real has since taken in a transfer market outlay of £905m, too much semi-final heartache and too many managers sacked.
Yet they boldly wrote their own script in Bavaria, one marked by a tactical masterclass from Ancelotti and ruthless execution from his players as the team who they have feared in Madrid as the Black Beast was torn apart piece by piece. They boldly wrote their own script in Bavaria, one marked by a tactical masterclass from Ancelotti and ruthless execution from his players as the team that they have feared in Madrid as the Black Beast was torn apart piece by piece.
The expectation had been for a classic, for two of the game's super-heavyweights to work each other to a standstill. Only one turned up. Bayern had beaten Real in four of their previous five European Cup semi-final meetings but this contest was effectively over with Ramos's second thumping header before the halfway point of the first-half. The expectation had been for a classic, for two of the game's super-heavyweights to work each other to a standstill. Only one turned up. Bayern had beaten Real in four of their previous five European Cup semi-final meetings but this contest was effectively over upon Ramos's second thumping header before the midway point of the first-half. What followed, most notably the goals from Ronaldo, merely represented a turn of the knife and for Guardiola and Bayern, it was a night of introspection, for wondering where the precise and mesmeric football had gone.
What followed, most notably the goals from Ronaldo, merely represented a savage turn of the knife and for Pep Guardiola and Bayern, it was a night of introspection, for wondering where their rampaging football had gone. There will be no successful Champions League defence for them but for Real, who had never previously won in Munich, the possibilities are tantalising. The Bayern inquest centred on the lack of an obvious Plan B from Guardiola once the possession football had been blunted while it could not fail to ignore the shocking looseness at the back. There will be no successful Champions League defence for them. For Real, however, who had never previously won in Munich, the possibilities are tantalising.
The cult of possession, and Guardiola's influences from his early days at Barcelona, had become a hot topic after the first-leg when Bayern hogged it and lost. Madrid deserved their praise for how they had penetrated and they travelled here with confidence, which felt like a far cry from when the draw was made. Then, there was fear among Madrid fans; a sense that they ought to be nervous underdogs. The first-leg had removed that, which was good because one of the fundamentals of football is that Madrid have to swagger. Ancelotti and his players had travelled with confidence, which felt like a far cry from the mood in Madrid when the draw was made. Then, there was uncharacteristic trepidation. The first leg, when Real had been incisive, had removed that, which felt good because one of the fundamentals of football is that Real have to swagger.
Madrid believed that Bayern were vulnerable at the back, that the central defenders Jérôme Boateng and Dante had errors in them. No one, though, could have predicted Bayern's collective defensive implosion on a couple of early set pieces. Teams at any level, let alone the most rarefied, are not supposed to be breached like this. They believed that the Bayern central defenders, Jérôme Boateng and Dante, were vulnerable but nobody could have predicted Bayern's collective implosion at the early set-pieces. Teams at any level, let alone the most rarefied, are not supposed to be breached like this.
Ramos was the beneficiary and how he revelled in letting off steam in front of the Bayern fans, who struggled to comprehend what was happening. Two years ago, at this stage of the competition, Ramos had missed the decisive penalty in Bayern's shootout victory at the Bernabéu. He had entered this tie with five goals in 73 Champions League appearances. After 20 minutes, the bookmakers were slashing in-play odds on an outlandish hat-trick. Ramos was the beneficiary and how he revelled in letting off steam in front of the Bayern fans, who struggled to comprehend what was happening. Two years ago, at this stage of the competition, Ramos had missed the decisive penalty in Bayern's shootout victory at the Bernabéu. He had entered this tie with five goals in 73 career Champions League appearances. After 20 minutes, the bookmakers were slashing in-play odds on an outlandish hat-trick.
His first goal came from a Luka Modric corner and if Ronaldo rose high in the centre, Ramos got even higher behind him, as Dante failed to stay tight. The header was too hot for Manuel Neuer to handle. Ramos's second, though, was even better. From Angel Di María's free-kick, Ramos reacted instinctively when the ball was flicked on to launch himself into a diving header that flashed home. The first came from a Luka Modric corner and if Ronaldo rose high in the centre, Ramos got even higher behind him, as Dante failed to stay tight. The header was too hot for Manuel Neuer to handle. The second was even better. From Ángel di María's free-kick, Ramos reacted instinctively when the ball was flicked on by Pepe to launch himself into a diving header which flashed home.
Ancelotti had started with Di María on the left of a midfield three, making Madrid compact but, with the pace of Bale and Ronaldo in wide areas, razor sharp on the counter. He could not have judged it more perfectly. Even before the opening goal, Madrid looked threatening and Bale was off-target after Neuer had left his area to head clear. It was not an isolated bolt from the Bayern goalkeeper, and it betrayed both his anxiety and that around him. His handling and kicking was suspect. Ancelotti had started with Di María on the left of a midfield three, making Real compact but, with the pace of Bale and Ronaldo in wide areas, razor sharp on the counter. He could not have judged it more perfectly. Even before the opening goal, Real looked threatening and Bale was off target after Neuer had left his area to head weakly clear. It was not an isolated bolt from the Bayern goalkeeper, and they betrayed both his anxiety and that around him. His handling and kicking was suspect.
Madrid pulverised Bayern in the first half and it was no exaggeration to say that it looked as though they might score with every forward thrust. It was remarkable to see how many three-on-three situations developed. Madrid's runners bristled with menace. The only blot during 45 golden minutes for them was Xabi Alonso's booking that rules him out of the final. Real pulverised Bayern in the first half and it was no exaggeration to say that it looked as though they might score with every forward thrust. It was remarkable to see how many three-on-three situations developed. Real's runners bristled with menace. The only blot during 45 golden minutes for them was Xabi Alonso's booking that rules him out of the final.
The third goal came when Madrid broke up an attack on the edge of their own area and Karim Benzema played Bale through the thin red line and he powered past Boateng before sliding the ball square for the unmarked Ronaldo to finish. Ronaldo gestured with his hands that it was his 15th goal in 10 Champions League ties this season. The third came when Karim Benzema played Bale through the thin red line and he powered past Boateng before working the ball square for Ronaldo to finish. Ronaldo gestured with his hands that it was his 15th goal in 10 Champions League ties this season. He might have had more in the first half alone. He had his 16th by the end.
Guardiola did not know whether to stick or twist. He played Philipp Lahm at right-back in order to accommodate Thomas Müller in attacking midfield but there was nothing from any of his players. It felt like a trick of the mind that, a few short weeks ago, having secured the Bundesliga title with indecent haste, Bayern were widely considered to be the best team in the world. Guardiola had opted for Philipp Lahm at right-back in order to accommodate Thomas Müller in attacking midfield – an admission that he had erred in the first-leg? – but there was nothing from any of his players here. It felt like a trick of the mind that, a few short weeks ago, having secured the Bundesliga title, Bayern were widely considered to be the best team on the planet.
Bayern bubbled with rage in the first-half and there were flashpoints, with players squaring up. One followed a bad tackle from Dante on Ronaldo, for which the Brazilian was booked. But it was flat in the second-half, despite the non-stop efforts of the home crowd. Never once did those behind the goal that Neuer tended so badly in the first-half fall silent. They bubbled with rage in the first half and there were a series of melees. One followed a bad tackle from Dante on Ronaldo while Franck Ribéry also aimed a spiteful slap. The second half became a futile search for a Bayern consolation and yet it finished with Ronaldo ramming a free-kick under the defensive wall and past Neuer. Ancelotti might wonder why on earth he should leave this team for Manchester United, who prize him. Real are on the march.
The second-half became a futile search for a Bayern consolation and yet it finished with Ronaldo ramming a free-kick under the defensive wall and past Neuer. Ancelotti might wonder why on earth he should leave this team for Manchester United. Real are in the final for the first time in 12 years.