Real Madrid's counter-attacking display
earned them a 1-0 first-leg lead in their semi-final against defending
champions Bayern Munich. Adam Bate was in the Bernabeu to see a clash of
styles that felt like far more than just a contest between two teams...
Pep Guardiola: Questions are being asked of the Bayern Munich manager
In one sense, this was just a match between
two famous clubs, one Spanish and one German. Two grand old teams of the
game with so much in common. But such is the debate that's been
sparked, you'd think it was a battle for the soul of football itself.
Real Madrid versus Bayern Munich. Possession against
counter-attack. It was a classic match-up offering an intriguing
contrast in styles. Such affairs can sometimes be one way, such as when
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea team not only parked the bus but stubbornly
refused to get off it throughout the previous evening's game in the
Spanish capital. But there was more than enough purpose and ambition to
Real Madrid's breaks in the Bernabeu to ensure excitement.
Real might style themselves as 'Reyes de Europa' as the banner
unfurled in the Fondo Sur prior to kick-off proudly proclaimed. But
against Europe's current champions they were cast in what is perceived
by some to be the emasculated role that comes with surrendering
possession to the opponents - on their own turf as well.
Guardiola on Real's counter-attacking
It wasn't exactly de rigueur stuff from Europe's most successful
team, still in search of that elusive 10th European crown. And certainly
not from one that includes the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, Cristiano
Ronaldo, in their ranks. Fans in Madrid come to see him with the ball at
his feet, not chasing Germans.
Ronaldo, not fully fit after a three-week absence it should be noted,
touched the ball just 16 times in the match - something Bayern's Toni
Kroos had achieved before most of the crowd were settled into their
seat. He also attempted just eight passes, completing six. Crucially,
however, from such limited involvement, Ronaldo still managed three
shots on target in his 70-minute appearance. Tellingly, the entire
Bayern team had four in the whole match.
Ronaldo attempted just eight passes but still managed three shots on target
That little statistic cuts to the heart of this matter. The
accepted wisdom is that possession of the ball equals control of the
game. Of course, there are always exceptions that prove the rule. The
UEFA Champions League itself has seen both Inter Milan and Chelsea win
the tournament in recent years without dominating. In the past decade,
Greece have won the Euros, Uruguay triumphed in the Copa America and
Zambia have achieved unlikely success in the Africa Cup of Nations.
But it's not for nothing that the teams at the top of league tables
the world over invariably rank fairly high in the possession standings,
too. The law of both averages and logic suggests retaining it makes
sense. But when does possession - and Bayern had plenty of it with 71.7
per cent of the ball against Real - not equal control?
The answer, it seems, is when it is as sterile as the fare served up
by Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday evening. Particularly when
accompanied by unsatisfactory protection of the defence against
opponents so devastatingly dangerous on the counter-attack.
Ancelotti pleased with tactics
With midfield dictator Bastian Schweinsteiger in an unusually
advanced role, it was necessary to keep one eye on the dynamics at the
other end of the pitch at all times. In more ways than one, every
passing chain felt like the prelude to a 'Real' chance.
As if to highlight the absurdity of the contrast, Bayern had actually
enjoyed 81 per cent possession at the precise moment Karim Benzema
deposited the ball into the visitors' net. An incisive forward pass down
the left channel by Ronaldo found the advancing Fabio Coentrao and the
left-back bypassed the Bayern defence to gift Benzema a tap-in. It was
the first significant chance of the game.
The opportunity had come more or less directly from a Kroos blocked
shot at the other end. Is that unfortunate or inevitable? The problem of
such patient build-up play is that there is plenty of time for bodies
to get back and get in the way. It takes speed in the final third,
unbelievable intricacy or an error from an opponent to create the
opening. Real were not in the mood for the latter and Bayern looked too
one-paced to provide the former.
Naturally, with the counter-attack it is a different story. It's
quite logical that with space in behind the defence for players to
attack, when a chance is fashioned it will be clearer and therefore more
likely to be put away. That's exactly what Benzema did. Indeed, Ronaldo
and Angel Di Maria could and should have tripled the lead between them
before half-time. Real had none of the ball but all of the best chances.
| Real Madrid v Bayern Munich | | |
| Team | Chances | Clear Chances |
| Real Madrid | 9 | 3 |
| Bayern Munich | 15 | 0 |
|
This reality is reflected in the above statistics. While Bayern
created chances of sorts, the clear chances came Real's way. Opta
defines a big chance as "a situation where a player should reasonably be
expected to score, usually in a one-on-one scenario or from very close
range" - and Bayern didn't manage to fashion one of those all evening.
As it stands, Real are the only team Guardiola's side haven't created
a big chance against in this season's Champions League, but given that
they only managed one in three hours of football against Manchester
United, the trend appears to be going in the wrong direction. By way of
further contrast, Real have created the most of them in this year's
competition at a rate of more than three per game. That vital away goal
looks a distinct possibility in Munich.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who boasts an unbeaten record
against Bayern, made his point succinctly in the post-match press
conference. "The game was more or less as I expected," he said.
"Football is not just about controlling the ball. It's about defending,
counter-attacking. We had three or four very clear chances in the first
half. This team is formidable on the counter."
Have Bayern lost their edge?
Guardiola agreed in words if not spirit. "Madrid are the best
counter-attacking team in the world," he said. "The faster you take the
ball to them, the faster it comes back at you." Later adding: "Madrid
have always been a counter-attacking team, for a long time, since I was a
player. They sit back and hit on the counter."
Like a vegetarian telling their partner the steak looks nice, the
sense of distaste in his mouth was almost palpable. Perhaps it is
understandable that Guardiola should view Real this way. After all, the
last time they managed so few passes in a game was up against Pep's
great Barca vintage of 2011. But a key difference is that this Bayern -
for all its quality - does not have a Lionel Messi.
Against teams with men behind the ball, it requires dribbling as well
as passing to unlock defences. Arjen Robben attempted eight of the 18
Bayern tried in the Real half, but completed just three of them and was
well marked. His team looked devoid of ideas. "We had a lot of
possession but we have to improve our final diagonal pass," Guardiola
said. Always the passing.
Balance has been lost. Guardiola took over a Bayern team that had a
variety of strengths. There was a physicality to their game and an
incisive counter-attack of their own. Bayern scored the most goals from
set-pieces in last season's Champions League. This year Atletico Madrid
have scored three times as many. Only three teams scored more goals on
the counter-attack last season. This year not a single strike has come
via a fast break.
| Bayern Munich Style Change | | |
| Goal Type | 2012/13 | 2013/14 |
| Open Play | 19 | 19 |
| Set-Piece | 8 | 3 |
| Counter-Attack | 2 | 0 |
|
"Bayern Munich have become possession without purpose," said Sky
Sports pundit Gary Neville. "They have to get that balance right. May
seem harsh but if the imbalance continues then what is a great team can
become a one-trick pony. Early warning signs are there. However, they
still could go through next week. They have a great manager and team
have just lost their incision."
There are 90 minutes left to find it and nobody should rule out them
doing so. There appears to be an appetite in some quarters to see them
fail - for the pass-masters to be foiled. But with home advantage in the
second leg, Bayern remain an even-money bet to progress to the final.
If they do so then they'll be huge favourites to become the first team
to defend the famous trophy in the Champions League era.
Small margins for the soul of football to be decided on. Perhaps what
people should really focus on is the joy of a sport that can be played -
and won - in so many different ways.
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