Played
April 25, 2012 7:45 PM WAT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee:‬ V. Kassai‎
Attendance:‬ 71654‎
 
6′ (PG) Cristiano Ronaldo
Arjen Robben 27′ (PG)
 
   
 
 

Champions League Player Ratings: Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich (Agg 3-3, 1-3 on penalties)

Goal.com was on hand to pass judgement on all the players involved in Wednesday night's thrilling semi-final encounter in the Spanish capital

By Robin Bairner

  • Iker Casillas
    333
    91
    3.00

    Iker Casillas

    Made a number of good stops when it seemed that the visitors might threaten, and intercepted a cross that Gomez was ready to convert. On the negative side, he’ll be a touch disappointed not to have saved Robben's penalty after getting his hands to the ball. His team-mates let him down in the shoot-out.

  • Pepe
    120
    278
    2.50

    Pepe

    Penalised for a foul on Gomez in the box and was nearly caught out as a quick throw would have opened up a goalscoring chance for the striker had the centre-back not been able to recover his ground. Had his hands full with the forward all evening and made a crucial block as Gomez threatened towards the end of normal time.

  • Sergio Ramos
    142
    402
    2.50

    Sergio Ramos Flop of the Match

    Struggled to cope with the movement of Gomez, who may have been playing a lone role in attack, but was more than a match for the two home centre-backs. While Pepe was the man-marker, Ramos was meant to plug the gaps, yet the attacker still found room to threaten. Did make some vital last-ditch blocks. Hit his penalty in the shoot-out miles over the bar.

  • Marcelo
    206
    229
    2.50

    Marcelo

    Was prominent down the left flank as an offensive threat, particularly in the early stages, but he struggled to contain the forward running of Robben. Even when the Dutchman was not in possession, his positioning was rather suspect.

  • Arbeloa
    126
    180
    3.00

    Arbeloa

    Most of the visitors’ best attacking movements came down the opposite flank, with the right-back solid whenever faced by Ribery. On occasions the Frenchman did squirm clear of him, he was able to quickly foul in a unthreatening area, and picked up a booking for one crude-but-smart indiscretion.

  • Sami Khedira
    180
    147
    3.00

    Sami Khedira

    Nearly made another unlikely offensive contribution in the early stages of the match when he found himself well placed in the Bayern box, but his shot was weak. Dropped into the left-back role cleverly when Marcelo attacked.

  • Mesut Özil
    299
    117
    3.00

    Mesut Özil

    The Germany international was responsible for the well-weighted pass that allowed Ronaldo to make the score 2-0 on the night. Although the former Schalke player took up some intelligent positions, this was his big moment of the game as he was policed relatively effectively. Withdrawn in extra time.

  • Xabi Alonso
    224
    106
    3.00

    Xabi Alonso

    Switched play with terrific grace throughout, opening up the play for his team-mates and allowing Madrid to exploit gaps in the visiting rearguard. After neglecting his defensive responsibilities to some extent in the first half, he was more disciplined in this regard thereafter.

  • Ángel Di María
    80
    266
    3.00

    Ángel Di María

    Got the better of Alaba early on to set up a fine early chance for Khedira, but after a promising start to the match, which included winning the penalty, the Argentine would struggle to produce his most threatening form. A wayward pass inside his own half early in the second period nearly inadvertently played Schweinsteiger in. Withdrawn with 15 minutes remaining.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo
    417
    448
    3.50

    Cristiano Ronaldo

    Did what Lionel Messi couldn’t do last night by converting a crucial penalty, giving Madrid all the early momentum. When played through by Ozil only a matter of minutes later, the Portuguese kept his head superbly to slide home the second. But missed a crucial kick in the shoot-out, forcing a brilliant save from Neuer.

  • Karim Benzema
    235
    157
    3.50

    Karim Benzema

    Preferred to Higuain at the point of Madrid’s attack and it was his clever movement that was crucial to opening up the space for Ronaldo’s second. Nearly bent home a terrific shot from an unlikely angle soon afterwards. Made several incisive runs and denied a goal only by some fine Neuer saves. Taken off at half-time in extra time.

Substitutions

  • Kaká
    135
    287
    3.00

    Kaká

    Kept the ball nicely in some tricky areas, but was unable to make a decisive impact, until his crucial penalty miss left Madrid trailing.

  • Esteban Granero
    68
    173
    0.00

    Esteban Granero

    Came on for the last 10 minutes of the game. Found time to be booked for a dive.

  • Gonzalo Higuaín
    74
    162
    0.00

    Gonzalo Higuaín

    Given only the second half of extra time.

  • Manuel  Neuer
    844
    72
    3.50

    Manuel Neuer Top of the Match

    Made a rather nervy start to the game, which would not have been helped by the fact that he was left helpless as the visitors struck twice quickly. Responded well, showing good handling to field a dipping Ronaldo free kick just before the break and turning away a Benzema drive in the second half. Superb in the shoot-out, saving first from Ronaldo, and then from Kaka.

  • Jerome Boateng
    225
    72
    2.50

    Jerome Boateng

    Another to be sucked out of position as Los Blancos struck their second goal of the match early in the game, the defender was worked hard by the movement of the home attack on a regular basis and rarely looked comfortable. Made a vital block from a Benzema cross late on.

  • Philipp Lahm
    282
    56
    3.00

    Philipp Lahm

    Was partly culpable for Madrid’s second goal as he drifted away from the centre of the field, opening up the gaping chasm for Ronaldo to run into. The Portuguese was pretty well restricted from open play, however, while the full-back was a vital outlet for his side when they were in possession. A poor penalty in the shoot-out was saved.

  • Holger Badstuber
    216
    74
    2.50

    Holger Badstuber

    It tended to be down Badstuber’s channel that Benzema found most joy, with the movement of the Frenchman catching the centre-back out on several occasions. He was not decisively exposed at any point, but was booked for a lunging challenge on the Frenchman. Will miss the final after being cautioned.

  • Franck Ribéry
    294
    74
    3.00

    Franck Ribéry

    Has been in scintillating form of late, but struggled to make much headway against Arbeloa. When he did wriggle free, he was fouled, but as he was given more freedom to drift as the match wore on, he was increasingly dangerous. Taken off in extra time.

  • Arjen  Robben
    380
    61
    3.50

    Arjen Robben

    Missed a glaring chance soon after Madrid had taken the lead, sending the ball over Casillas’ bar from six yards out but squeezed a penalty past the home goalkeeper to draw the tie level midway through the first period. Guilty of overdoing things on the ball in good positions against his former side.

  • D. Alaba
    415
    47
    3.00

    D. Alaba

    Suffered a nightmare start to the game. Inside the first five minutes, he was easily beaten by Di Maria to create an early chance for Khedira, and while he was still recovering from that blow, he would concede a penalty that also saw him booked, ruling him out of any potential final almost immediately. It could have been a harrowing night for the young Austrian, but he responded well, particularly when given the chance to attack. Can be proud of his recovery, which was completed as he struck home the opening penalty in the shoot-out.

  • Luiz Gustavo Dias
    290
    53
    3.00

    Luiz Gustavo Dias

    The destroyer in Bayern’s midfield, he was a little slow to get close to Ozil at times, forcing him to concede fouls in dangerous areas. Was harshly penalised at times, but overall was fortunate to escape a booking until he was finally carded in stoppage time, keeping him out of the final.

  • Bastian Schweinsteiger
    405
    45
    3.50

    Bastian Schweinsteiger

    The all-action midfielder was given a screening job in the Spanish capital, preventing him from making his characteristic charges down the field. Provided useful support to the attack and was the chief linking player, but wasn’t the destructive force he might have been. Held his nerve to strike the winning penalty.

  • Toni Kroos
    345
    52
    3.50

    Toni Kroos

    A valuable creative outlet for Bayern, floating behind the foremost attackers and feeding dangerous little passes in between the home defenders for Gomez to feed off. Drifted into several excellent areas, but was given less room in the second period to threaten. Had his penalty saved in the shoot-out.

  • Mario Gomez
    393
    128
    3.50

    Mario Gomez

    Arguably the greatest pure goal scorer in the world today, he stung the palms of Casillas with an early shot, setting the tone for an excellent performance from the striker. His movement was an immense threat to the home defence, and he was not shy to get shots away. Won the penalty that drew Bayern back into the match, but dallied crucially when he had a seemingly simple chance.

Substitutions

  • Thomas Müller
    192
    64
    0.00

    Thomas Müller

    Came on early in extra time for Ribery.

Results
 
Match News
Player Ratings
Tournament
Position
Ranking
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid
12 0
Robert  Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund
10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern
8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona
8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray
8 0