Bayern Strikes
Fansided

Five takeaways as Bayern Munich hand Real Madrid an easy win

By Benjamin Scott

MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 25: Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Muenchen looks on during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg match between Bayern Muenchen and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena on April 25, 2018 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Lukasz Laskowski/PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 25: Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Muenchen looks on during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg match between Bayern Muenchen and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena on April 25, 2018 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Lukasz Laskowski/PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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Marco Asensio buried his gifted chance with aplomb to give Real Madrid the lead. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images)
Marco Asensio buried his gifted chance with aplomb to give Real Madrid the lead. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images) /

Wasted chances

Robert Lewandowski wasn’t the only player who had opportunity to score on Wednesday, he was just the biggest culprit on the night.

Other players were equally as wasteful in front of goal. Franck Ribery choked on what was probably the easiest chance of the night, his touch letting him down when he was clean through on goal. He fought hard after that to get his second chance, but even then was often denied by Keylor Navas.

Mats Hummels should have made better with the chance awarded him, as should have Thomas Muller with the few half-chances that came his way.

Bayern had chance after chance to not only put themselves ahead, but to build upon their lead. Instead they were wasteful. If you can’t put away chances, you can’t expect to reach the Champions League final. It’s as simple as that.

Cheap giveaways

Jupp Heynckes said it best, “We gave Real Madrid two goals with clear mistakes” (via Goal). Just as Bayern Munich blew several easy chances, completely erasing all their hard work in attack, they gifted Real Madrid two easy goals with stupid defensive errors, completely destroying their hard work in defense.

Take nothing away from either Marcelo’s or Marco Asensio’s strikes. They capitalized on the opportunities that came their way. However, those opportunities should never have arrived.

The headed cross that led to Marcelo’s should never have reached the Brazilian left-back. Javi Martinez, half expecting Cristiano Ronaldo to attempt the impossible, was caught watching and failed to clear the ball out of Bayern’s box. He wasn’t the only Bayern player caught flat-footed at the moment, just the one nearest to the ball.

The play that led to Real Madrid’s goal is much less forgivable. Caught in a moment of panic, Rafinha — started in place of the injured David Alaba — gifted the ball straight to Lucas Vazquez, who stormed into Bayern’s half before finding a wide open Marco Asensio to give his side the lead.

It couldn’t have come any easier for Zinedine Zidane’s men, and Bayern Munich only have themselves to blame.