A legend who starred for both Real Madrid and Bayern breaks down the factors that led to the 1-2 first-leg scoreline and what to expect in the second leg.
Few voices are more authoritative to talk about football than Toni Kroos, who knows both clubs intimately. And if on top of that the topic is Real Madrid and Bayern, two teams in which he won absolutely everything, the range narrows even further.
On the eve of the second leg of the quarterfinals, the German legend analyzed the matchup on the podcast Einfach mal luppen, which he shares with his brother Felix, to offer hope to Madridistas amid the chaos.
He was asked about his opinion of the first leg, a match that left Bayern in control. To which he said: "I was not surprised by what happened, although Bayern delivered an excellent performance, but what occurred after going up 0-2 was the most striking aspect mentally.
In recent years, Bayern have put in good performances against Real Madrid, but in the return legs they often fail to maintain their level or secure qualification, being affected by small details."
The mental factor is very important, and that is where Madrid excels. "Let me explain. The 0-2 lead should have served to close out the match mentally and eliminate any doubt about the result, but what surprised me was that Bayern began to retreat and defend with less intensity, almost as if they were protecting something."
"At that moment, Bayern had total control of the match, and I expected them to continue dominating or even extend the lead. I thought they would maintain control through possession or add a third, fourth, and perhaps even a fifth goal, but the opposite happened, shifting everything."
"The mistake Upamecano made against Vinicius was a turning point. After that, Real Madrid showed their character and created several dangerous chances between minutes 60 and 75 despite trailing 0-2."
"For me, he is the best of all time. He is the only goalkeeper who is truly fun to watch play. What he does looks very good. He still has his own unique style. No one else has that. His presence, his movements, his elegance. It's incredible, simply breathtaking." This is what the legendary Real Madrid midfielder said when asked about the performance of his compatriot Manuel Neuer.
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