Crucial match, says Tuchel as Bayern-Madrid semifinal ends 2-2

In the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 first semifinal between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, held in Germany, the match concluded in a 2-2 draw despite Bayern initially leading 2-1 and nearly closing with a 3-1 advantage. Post-match, Bayern’s coach Thomas Tuchel emphasized the significance of maintaining belief within the team as they prepare for the second leg in Madrid on May 9.

Tuchel expressed confidence in his team’s prospects, asserting, “Of course it’s possible [to win in Madrid]. It’s still a 50-50 match and I think we will be able to create great chances there. The goal is absolutely clear, we need to win. We need to be brave, full of confidence, and very clinical in our game.”

Reflecting on the match, Tuchel acknowledged the missed opportunities that could have secured a more favorable outcome. “The result is the result, and it doesn’t make sense to dwell on it too much. Real Madrid have done this before, converting two chances into two goals. We aren’t the first team this has happened to. They are clinical and know how to wait for their moment. We shouldn’t be disappointed for too long.”

Tuchel further noted, “We could have scored a third but we weren’t clinical enough. We had enough chances to score the third and committed some errors. The situation is clear, we go there and the winner takes it all.”

On the opposite side, Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti noted that his team did not perform at their best, yet they managed to prevent a Bayern win, thanks in part to Vinícius Júnior’s twin strikes.

The upcoming second leg is set to be a critical showdown, with the winner moving on to the final. Bayern hopes to leverage Harry Kane’s recent goal-scoring form, but overcoming Madrid on their home turf remains a formidable challenge for the German side.