Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich: Player ratings as Los Blancos reach yet another European Cup final
Real Madrid will again contest a European Cup final after overcoming Bayern Munich over two legs.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men recently celebrated becoming Spanish champions and will look to add more silverware at Borussia Dortmund’s expense next month.
It will be the club’s 18th final and first at Wembley Stadium, with Real victorious on 14 previous occasions, including against German opposition Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen, both coming on British soil.
After the opening leg ended in a 2-2 draw, it was a game of two substitutes; Alphonso Davies put the visitors in front before Joselu struck twice in as many minutes, cementing a 2-1 win and, in the process, enhancing his cult status in Spain’s capital.
Omens for title number 15 are looking good as Real have won four matches despite conceding the first goal in the Champions League this season, the most by a side in a single campaign since themselves in 2016-17 (5) when they went on to lift the trophy.
As the dust begins to settle, here is how the players rated at Santiago Bernabéu:
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Real Madrid
Andriy Lunin – 7 – Seldom tested until tipping Kane’s low volley wide. It may have been off target anyway, but there was no chance the Ukrainian shot-stopper was taking any chances as he dived down to his left.
Ferland Mendy – 7 – Those rumours of Davies joining Real in the summer have quietly disappeared. A big part has been Mendy’s return to form, and he was on song this evening.
Nacho – 7 – Midway into the opening half, Ancelotti tweaked slightly, wanting Madrid’s defensive line five metres higher up and Nacho touch-tight on Kane, which led to a fascinating battle.
Antonio Rüdiger – 7 – The one asterisk in tonight’s performance was not coping with Davies’s marauding towards the goal for Bayern’s opener.
Dani Carvajal – 6.5 – No one personifies the passion of this Real Madrid team, but the experienced full-back can always be carried away, necessitating intervention by the referee.
Toni Kroos – 7.5 – Put on another passing clinic while on the field. He completed a game-high 95 out of 101 passes and Bayern failed to press him in midfield.
Aurélien Tchouaméni – 5.5 – Enjoyed a modest outing in Real’s midfield and kept things moving, but never enough to impact this second leg.
Rodrygo – 7 – Saw an effort spectacularly kept out by Neuer, which could easily have been the opener for the home team.
Jude Bellingham – 8 – Again, he was the driving force behind this exciting young Real attack; Bellingham may have been subdued in Munich, but this was anything but.
Federico Valverde – 6 – Had an opportunity to put Real ahead, but Neuer was equal to his effort.
Vinícius Júnior – 9 – He started as he meant to go on and even hit the inside of Neuer’s post. That moment lit something inside him, and the Brazilian forward grew into a thorn in Bayern’s side. This was a virtuoso performance in which he completed no fewer than 12 take-ons, won nine duels, and produced three shots on target.
Substitutes:
Luka Modric (for Kroos 69) – 6 – No longer a guaranteed starter, but the Croat still oozes class.
Eduardo Camavinga (for Tchouaméni 69) – 5 – Booked late for timewasting.
Brahim Díaz (for Rodrygo 81) – N/A – A late sub.
Joselu (for Valverde 81) – 8 – Came off the bench to level proceedings when he profited from a rare Neuer mistake. Moments later, again in the right place to send Real into another Champions League final.
Éder Militão (for Bellingham 90+10) – N/A – A late sub.
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Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer – 7.5 – He produced a save worthy of belonging in his top 10 compilation of all time as he denied Rodrygo, having initially been saved by the post. Neuer rolled back the years and was Bayern’s standout performer until an uncharacteristic howler allowed the hosts back into the game. That mistake tarnishes an otherwise exceptional performance.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5 – Although his inclusion in Bayern’s lineup raised some eyebrows, Mazraoui’s performance was inoffensive.
Eric Dier – 6 – On the fringes under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, the England international has been the only constant in Bayern’s defence since joining on loan this past winter.
Matthijs de Ligt – 6 – A calming presence in Bayern’s defence until the chaotic final minutes.
Joshua Kimmich – 5.5 – He struggled to contain Vinícius Júnior, who dominated on Real’s left wing.
Aleksandar Pavlovic – 6.5 – Showed incredible poise after becoming the youngest German player to start a UEFA Champions League semi-final in over a decade.
Konrad Laimer – 5.5 – Made to work in the middle third, especially with Bellingham being in inspired form. There was always the danger of making a costly late foul.
Serge Gnabry – 5 – Had an early moment when he found space on the left, and his ball ran across the face of the goal, just too far in front of Kane. It was unclear if it was a shot or pass. After enduring a troubling spell with injuries, Gnabry’s evening was over before the half-hour mark.
Jamal Musiala – 5 – Unquestionably the jewel in this current Bayern crown, the exciting youngster drifted in and out.
Leroy Sané – 6 – Bayern always used his pace as a weapon, but the former Manchester City winger often lacked something extra to trouble Real’s backline.
Harry Kane – 5.5 – The Bayern forward – averaging a goal a game in his first season with the Bavarians – couldn’t move level with Wayne Rooney on 30 goals as the highest-scoring English player in this competition.
Substitutes:
Alphonso Davies (for Gnabry 27) – 7 – The explosive Canadian left-back has expressed his desire to play a more advanced role. He got his chance tonight. And, boy, howdy. He struck a resounding effort on his weaker foot to put Bayern 1-0 up.
Kim Min-Jae (for Sané 76) – N/A – A late sub.
Thomas Müller (for Musiala 85) – N/A – A late sub.
Eric Choupo-Moting (for Kane 85) – N/A – A late sub.
