As Los Blancos are sent packing from the competition earlier than expected for a second consecutive season, here is what went wrong for the side on the night
On Wednesday evening, Real Madrid were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage for a second year running, as they lost 4-3 to Bayern Munich on the night and 6-4 on aggregate.
The performance was much improved from the first leg, but Los Blancos were not able to get over the line, and this defeat means the club have won just two Champions League titles in the last eight seasons.
So, what went wrong?
It has to be said, although the two combined for the third goal on the night, Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe were disappointing. With the way Bayern were playing, there was so much space for them in behind.
Yet, other than the aforementioned goal, they did not exploit that space. And both players missed presentable opportunities. Mbappe in the first half - having been well found by Vinicius it should be said - before the Brazilian missed a good chance of his own in the second half.
Ultimately, and this through nobodies fault in particular, Andriy Lunin is just such a monumental downgrade on Thibaut Courtois. Basically any keeper would be, but not all by this much.
The equaliser from Bayern saw Lunin just be completely bullied, at a time where Alvaro Arbeoloa's side could have pounced on a nervous home crowd after the unexpected early goal.
He did make a brilliant save from Michael Olise in the second half, and none of the other goals were really his fault, but ultimately the tie could have been very different if not for his error.
If there is one player, above all, who is to blame for the defeat, it is Eduardo Camavinga. The Frenchman was introduced on 62 minutes for Brahim Diaz. Not long after coming on, he made one or two excellently timed tackles to stop Bayern moves.
However, he was booked after 78 minutes. Then, just eight minutes later, he fouled Harry Kane to stop the England captain turning and starting an attack. Not a booking in its own right. However, he then kept the ball and refused to give it to Bayern. An obvious yellow card. Just completely and entirely braindead from Camavinga. Inexcusable.
Ultimately, a much improved collective performance throughout the 90 minutes, and a lot to be proud of in that respect, but stupid, costly and untimely errors at crucial moments were the biggest downfall on the night. Just very avoidable.
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