Bayern, Real Madrid semifinal perfectly poised after thriller
Harry Kane had a familiar face in his ear as he prepared to take the penalty to save his season. Jude Bellingham was trying his best to put his England team-mate off but Kane held his nerve, his spot-kick keeping Bayern Munich’s hopes of Champions League glory alive after a thrilling opening leg.
After missing out on the Bundesliga title, this is Kane’s last chance of silverware in his first season in Germany and he is doing everything possible to finally land a major trophy.
Trailing to Vinicius Junior’s goal, the tie was slipping away before Leroy Sane’s equaliser and Kane’s ice-cool penalty. Brushing off Bellingham’s gamesmanship, he gave Andriy Lunin the eyes before rolling his penalty in the opposite direction of the Real Madrid goalkeeper.
Billed as Kane vs Bellingham, Round 1 went the way of the Bayern striker but this semifinal is very much in the balance. Real were ruthless, levelling 2-2 before the end when Vini Jr scored a penalty of his own.
It sets it up perfectly between the two European heavyweights at the Santiago Bernabéu next week.
Kane has scored only three times before in semis or finals for club or country but he more than turned up here, creating chances and having some himself before his important moment from the penalty spot. He has been involved in 11 goals in the Champions League this season through goals or assists, the most even by an Englishman.
Bellingham and Kane were not the only Englishmen on the pitch, with Eric Dier continuing one of the most unlikely stories of the season– from Tottenham reserve to Champions League semifinalist. His was an automatic selection for Thomas Tuchel, given the knee injury Matthijs de Ligt suffered at the weekend. Dier’s form, which triggered another year at Bayern, commanded a starting place and he was partnered by Kim Min-jae.
Neither had much to do for 20 minutes but this Real team has been branded “weird” by Bernardo Silva after their ropea-dope tactics at Etihad Stadium in the last round. While Real are the kings of the competition, they were happy to be dominated by City’s possession and invited Bayern to do the same.
It meant chances were ceded. Kane was inevitably involved, sending Sane through on goal in the first 40 seconds and forcing a sharp save from Lunin with his legs. Kane had his own sighters on goal, one from the edge of the area and then a David Beckham-style effort from the halfway line that the golf fanatic just overclubbed.
But just as Bayern settled into a pattern of attacking, Real seized on their first chance on goal to establish a lead. More specifically, Toni Kroos did. The 34-yearold saw Min-jae step out of the backline to get close to Vini Jr, and Kroos’ response was to slide the ball into the space vacated. It was the perfect throughball and only needed Vini Jr to apply the finish.
This was Real’s way. They were trying to pinch the ball and counter-attack, with Bellingham dropping deeper to get involved, then were ready to burst forward when they won possession.
Kane would have more chances at Lunin’s goal. His next came from a free-kick after Jamal Musiala’s run towards the penalty area was halted. Kane got his shot around the defensive wall but it was just wide of the post.
In the frantic midfield, it was Kroos who had a calm head. He has come out of international retirement for the Euros in the summer and his class in those central areas will be important for Julian Nagelsmann. Others crashed into tackles and ran into trouble, while Kroos was positioned perfectly and set his attacking team-mates free with his range of passing.
The pace of the game was breakneck, with the ball fizzing between players as they looked to set up attacks.
Bellingham looked completely at home at this stage. He could play one-touch passes around the box or put his foot on the ball. His work-rate often goes unappreciated but he grafts all around the pitch, putting in tackles. When he is is not on the highlights reel, he is putting in a shift.
It was another lung-busting run from him that set up another chance. Vini Jr held the ball up and saw his young English teammate run ahead of him. When Bellingham got on the ball, he had the awareness to tee up Kroos, whose effort was heading into the top corner before Manuel Neuer’s save.
But after soaking so much pressure, Bayern eventually turned the tie on its head with two goals in four minutes. It was Sane who levelled the score, collecting the ball after a surging run from Konrad Laimer. There was still plenty of work to do but the Germany winger cut inside Ferland Mendy and powerfully drilled into the near post. Goalkeepers never like being beaten on their nearside, but this was a rocket.
With the Bayern fans sensing momentum going their way, they were ahead minutes later when Musiala was blocked off in the area by Lucas Vazquez. Kane showed no nerves, sending Lunin the wrong way with his spot-kick. Min-jae conceded the penalty for Real’s equaliser seven minutes from time, bringing down Rodrygo with another lapse in concentration. Vini Jr tucked away the penalty to level the scores.