Bayern Munich 0-4 Real Madrid: Real go ahead through set-pieces, ensure thrashing with counter-attacks
The starting line-ups
Real Madrid produced a remarkable performance at the home of the European Champions to progress to the final.
Pep Guardiola named a more adventurous team than in the first leg, playing Thomas Muller at the top of the midfield, with the knock-on effect that Philipp Lahm was moved to right-back.
Carlo Ancelotti made only one change – Gareth Bale was fit to start on the right, so Angel Di Maria swapped sides and Isco dropped out.
This game was over before half-time, with Real's gameplan working brilliantly.
Clash of styles
Possession play against counter-attack, then, although a slightly confusing game in terms of identity – because it's the German side playing pure possession football, and the Spanish side showcasing reactive play.
The style was similar to the first leg, albeit more extreme. That isn't to say that Bayern were more concentrated on possession play – indeed, they started this match by moving the ball forward quicker, and the use of Muller (rather than a third midfielder in that role) meant they had more players high up the pitch, in goalscoring positions.
But, in a way, that was what made it more extreme – Bayern had another player higher up the pitch, and this allowed Real opportunities to counter-attack through Bayern's side easily. And while the possession play was less cautious, this meant Bayern's moves broke down more, they conceded possession more, and Real could break more.
With Bale in the side, Real had an extra counter-attacking weapon – and never before has their counter-attacking play been so devastating against a top side.
Bayern possession play
Bayern's passing started very quick, with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben fed whenever possible, and both were allowed to carry the ball forward at speed – something that rarely happened in the first leg. Muller offered another option upfront – he made some good runs into the channels while Mario Mandzukic stayed in central positions, and overall there was certainly more variety to Bayern's attacks.
The lack of penetration remained, however, but the greater problem was that Bayern were very poor at defensive transitions. At Barcelona, Guardiola's players were excellent at pressing as soon as they lost possession, partly because they covered space so evenly, and therefore prevented the opposition from bursting into an obvious gap on the break.
These concepts are much less obvious in this Bayern side – here, Real had time to knock an intelligent first ball out of defence, and their attacking players were allowed to receive the ball in pockets of space, free from any opposition pressure.
Real defensive work
Rather than excessively criticise Bayern's bluntness, though, it's worth outlining what an extraordinary defensive effort this has been from Real Madrid – keeping two clean sheets against a Bayern side packed with
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