Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich: Talk of the Champions League as Thomas Tuchel Rages Over Matthijs De Ligt's Offside Ghost Goal

Is Tuchel right when he feels he was “betrayed” by being offside?

“It is a disastrous decision by the linesman and the referee. It almost feels like a betrayal.”

Thomas Tuchel didn’t take time to address the elephant in the room in his post-match interview. The Bayern Munich coach clearly felt that Matthijs de Ligt’s last-minute equalizer, which cost his team in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, should have stood after the referees ruled it too early for offside.

Why was Bayern Munich upset?

Matthijs De Light put the ball into the net late for Bayern Munich, which would certainly have sent the game into extra time.

But a few seconds before De Ligt’s shot, referee Szymon Marciniak had already whistled for offside against Noussair Mazraoui.

But replays showed the Bayern defender was onside, with the assistant – who is instructed to keep his flag down on tight calls so the VAR can review the call – making a clear error when he raised his flag raised and provoked the referee to blow his whistle.

Whether the Real de Ligt players would have prevented a goal had the whistle not gone out is debatable, but it was a serious mistake by the referees at a critical moment.

There is no doubt that the linesman and referee Szymon Marciniak should have waited to call it offside and let the game play out so that the VAR could check everything. It was a clear mistake and both officials apologized to Tuchel and the Bayern players.

But doubts remain as to whether the early final whistle actually prevented a clear goal. After the final whistle, two Real Madrid defenders stopped, allowing Thomas Müller to head towards De Ligt. Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin also made no attempt to parry De Ligt’s shot after the final whistle.

Yes, Bayern were denied a clear shot on goal, but would Real have successfully defended that chance if the whistle hadn’t gone out?

In any case, this is a debate that will last well beyond the full-time whistle on Wednesday evening.
Lightning itself

Joselu’s exploits sum up Real’s relationship with the Champions League

Eight years ago this week, Joselu sat unused on the bench at Selhurst Park and wasn’t even considered good enough to save Stoke, who ultimately lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace.

Nobody would have supported the Spanish striker in ultimately sending Real Madrid to the Champions League final with two goals against Bayern Munich. But that’s how football works sometimes.

In fact, it’s the way Real Madrid operate. The Spanish team has won four games despite conceding its first goal in the UEFA Champions League this season, the most since – yes, you guessed it, Real Madrid in the 2016-17 season.

Add Joselu to a long list of real-life comeback heroes. Rodrygo beat Chelsea and Manchester City with several late goals en route to victory in 2022. Cristiano Ronaldo used the Champions League comebacks at the Santiago Bernabeu like his toys in his prime.

Real have their Champions League mojo back. And it will take a lot of Dortmund strength to stop them at Wembley Stadium in June.
Lightning itself

Sancho does the dirty work to suppress Mbappe

Not many people would have thought that Jadon Sancho would be Dortmund’s main defender, eclipsing Kylian Mbappe.

In the first leg in Dortmund, Sancho was the decisive attacking spark on the pitch and could have scored a hat-trick of assists at the end. He had a different role in the second leg in Paris.

The England winger teamed up with right-back Julian Ryerson to stop PSG’s dynamic No.7. In the end, it was a brilliant defensive performance that saw Sancho win seven possessions and win six possessions in defense and in the middle third. Mbappe, meanwhile, only had five shots.

Sancho also achieved a striker pass rate of 63.64 percent – the highest on the pitch. When Dortmund had to get on the pitch and relieve the pressure on the defensive line, Sancho was their calm and effective figure.

This allows Sancho to show attacking skills and do the dirty work. He would be a golden addition to any squad in Europe. Are you watching, Erik?
Lightning itself

Mbappé was anonymized

This is not the Kylian Mbappe we have become accustomed to, who appears so often on big occasions.

This is a player with 48 goals in the Champions League. He has scored the most goals in World Cup finals. He is one of the world-famous best.

There was no sign of this against Dortmund. The German side trained him. Mbappé remained virtually anonymous for 180 minutes. Simply marked out of the game.

Dortmund’s dynamic defensive pairing – Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck – deserves praise, but questions must also be asked of PSG’s No.7, who leaves the Parc des Princes at the end of this season without even a whiff of champions’ league title , which his club longs for so much – and the trophy that he was supposed to deliver.

Mbappé was cautious, indecisive and wasteful and lost the ball 18 times on Tuesday evening. Of the twelve ball contacts he had in the opponent’s penalty area, three led to shots on goal, but none bothered Gregor Kobel.

“Football is so unfair,” complained coach Luis Enrique after the game. That’s often true. But not here. The PSG stars showed their colors, while the entire Dortmund team showed how worthwhile a coherent game plan that is implemented with unwavering commitment can be.
Laura Hunter

Dortmund’s defenders form the yellow wall

They say you earn your happiness. Well, Dortmund’s defenders definitely did it at PSG.

Luis Enrique pointed out that PSG hit the woodwork six times over the course of the two games and explained why they deserved to reach the Wembley final at Dortmund’s expense. But Dortmund’s defense didn’t deserve to lose either.

The back four consisting of Julian Ryerson, Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck and Ian Maatsen – the latter was formerly at Burnley and Coventry – managed a total of 36 saves at the Parc des Princes, 12 of which were headed, and won 24 duels. They will all sleep well tonight if they can amidst the festivities.

Dortmund are now bringing the yellow wall to Wembley Stadium, although there will be a second, smaller wall in front of the goal. Anyone who plays against them in the Champions League final will not want to play against this quartet.
Lightning itself