Bayern failed to make the final against Real and lost the final. Here are five reasons why it didn’t work out for the Bavarian giant

Bayern Munich will not repeat their final match at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund after eleven years. It was decided by yesterday’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid. Bayern were 1-0 up and had everything well in hand. What led to its collapse? Here are the five reasons that cost the Bavarian giant promotion.

Harry Kane’s unconverted penalty

Harry Kane wasn’t very visible in the game despite an assist to his credit. However, his star moment could and should have come in the last ten minutes. Jamal Musiala brilliantly slipped the ball past his defence after his solo effort and Kane stood alone in front of Lunin, but failed at the crucial moment.

Had the English cannonballer increased the score to 2-0, Real would probably not have recovered. Kane thus put to rest once again his reputation that trophies are simply not won with his presence in the team.

Thomas Müller’s botched 4-on-1 cross

Real Madrid created pressure on the visiting defence after the goal was scored, but it resisted until the 88th minute, even with a big contribution from Neuer. Bayern, however, could rely on the home side’s defensive lapses.

On one occasion, Real’s entire defence broke down and the Bavarians raced into a four-on-one cross, but the experienced Thomas Müller inexplicably drove his teammate to the byline. Bayern nevertheless finished the situation and almost successfully, but Luka Modric intervened at the last moment in front of the lone Pavlovic.

Manuel Neuer’s miss

If the game had ended in the 88th minute, few would have doubted the player of the match. However, it was that minute that proved fatal for the fantastic Neuer. Even this experienced goalkeeper couldn’t keep out a poor shot from outside the box from Vinicius and substitute Joselu equalised at 1-1. This moment put Real on the back foot and the thirty-four year old Spaniard added his second and equalising goal shortly afterwards.

🚨🚨 Emmanuel Neuer must be regretting this mistake he made here.

I really feel for Harry Kane, Sane and Musiala they gave it all#RealMadridBayern#RealMadridBayernpic.WZv6XSjaP

– Palmer™🇬🇧 (@cfccolepalmer) May 9, 2024

Bad substitutions by Thomas Tuchel

Already a necessary lineup hit from the first half didn’t bode well. But Davies replaced Gnabry more than well and even rewarded himself with a goal. After that, however, the German manager somewhat incomprehensibly withdrew his offensive aces somewhat early and focused everything on the defensive end.

Real thus took advantage of the free midfield and pressed their opponents. Tuchel then sent the experienced Choupo-Motingo on for Kane instead of the quick-footed Tell, while the young Tell would have been a more valid option, especially with his speed. All the more so when the home side were leaving bigger and bigger gaps at the back.

An unfortunate verdict by referee Marciniak

The setup was supposed to last nine minutes, but it was played for fifteen. Referee Marciniak then indicated that he would add two more. If the up to then excellent referee had stopped the match after eleven minutes, nothing would have been solved and he would not have gotten into trouble.

But the game went on, and with less than two minutes to go Marciniak reacted somewhat prematurely to the linesman’s flag and blew the offside whistle.

Subsequent footage then showed that Mazraoui’s alleged offside was very close, if it was at all. How the whole event would have turned out is questionable, yet this situation is a big blemish on an otherwise beautiful duel.

Thomas Tuchel is thus out of the game with his team in the last competition in which he could have been thinking about the trophy. Bayern will thus have a difficult summer ahead of them, during which, in addition to the hiring of a new manager, they will also have to make cuts to their playing staff. Will the Bavarians manage to win the trophy next season?

Source: Author’s article