Real Madrid against Bayern Munich, this was a super match, like Mars colliding with Earth.
Both teams were in peak form, with top-tier personnel, tactical reserves, and squad choices.
It could be said that even professionals couldn't predict which of these two teams would gain the upper hand.
There was no possibility of prediction; either team could win, it truly depended on their performance in the match!
Therefore, the analysts who had previously compared the direct lineups and made pre-match predictions were almost all silenced. No matter which side they said had an advantage, the other side would have ample reasons to refute it. Thus, they saved themselves the trouble of analyzing and instead allowed the fans to maintain full anticipation.
As for the expressions of these two teams' representatives at the UEFA draw in Nyon, they were quite amusing.
Evidently, neither Real Madrid nor Bayern Munich particularly wanted to face each other, yet at the same time, they were somewhat relieved to meet early.
This was an extremely contradictory psychology.
For example, for Bayern Munich, they didn't want to play a match they weren't confident about. Facing Real Madrid required too much consideration; their squad was excellent, but Real Madrid's was equally so.
Last season, they defeated Real Madrid, but at that time, Real Madrid was in a period of internal turmoil. Now, they have completely emerged from it, and their overall combat effectiveness will undoubtedly be stronger.
Another reason was 'Suker in the final.' Just like Suker's words, he truly had never lost in a final.
Whether it was metaphysics or a personal state buff, for Bayern Munich, encountering Suker and Real Madrid in the final would be even more difficult, as they would also have to bear a psychological pressure stemming from metaphysics.
As for Real Madrid, setting aside the players for a moment, let's talk about the staff.
They were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season and were eager for revenge.
Therefore, they were very happy to face Bayern Munich because they could get their revenge.
But at the same time, they were very anxious, after all, they lost last season.
Both teams had their own psychological issues, and these were things that needed to be overcome.
Of course, they wouldn't show this openly, but deep down, they must have been extremely anxious.
The preparations made for this were also very active.
Real Madrid had already begun various tactical adjustments during the preparation phase. Ancelotti even called the forward players together for discussions on tactical changes.
For this Champions League Semi-Final, he had indeed prepared some routines.
One couldn't call them complete tactical systems, as tactics serve the system, and with a confirmed system, tactics couldn't undergo too drastic changes.
Therefore, they could only be routines!
However, often these routines could produce miraculous effects.
As for Bayern Munich, they were also nervously making preparations.
In the early morning, the sun was bright.
The Isar River flows through Munich, and on both sides of the river, there are mostly parks.
In the early morning, people were scarce, and small birds chirped on the branches, making this spring even more lively.
Soon, a small bird flapped its wings and soared, while on the running track below, a sound quickly swept past.
Rapid breathing, continuous footsteps, and those powerful, muscular legs.
After Cristiano Ronaldo completed his morning run along the river, he stopped, calmed his breathing, and then began various stretching exercises.
And after he completed these movements, a figure from the far end arrived late.
"Running 10 kilometers in the morning, are you running a marathon?"
Mandžukić immediately complained after catching up with Cristiano Ronaldo.
This guy was good in every way, but he was a training fanatic.
He vaguely remembered that after the Champions League match, he returned to the villa in the middle of the night. Cristiano Ronaldo invited him for an activity, and Mandžukić thought it was some kind of party, so he eagerly went.
Then, he was pulled by Cristiano Ronaldo for a deeply impactful 'night run.'
This was a pure training fanatic; the intensity and frequency of his training were unlike anything Mandžukić had ever seen.
Previously, he thought Suker was already hardworking enough, but when he saw Cristiano Ronaldo, he realized that Suker was completely overshadowed.
Suker was a talent monster, fed by God!
"I usually only run five kilometers in the morning," Cristiano Ronaldo said with a smile, turning his head after stretching his legs. "But today I'm exceptionally excited!"
Mandžukić gave Cristiano Ronaldo a dismissive look. "Because you're playing Real Madrid?"
Cristiano Ronaldo nodded forcefully.
Mandžukić slapped his forehead. "Unbelievable! It's truly unbelievable! Does anyone really get excited when facing a strong opponent? You're like this, Suker is like this, am I the only one so nervous my legs are shaking?"
Cristiano Ronaldo smiled dashingly: "We don't need to be nervous. We are the defending champions; they are the challengers!"
"Easy for you to say," Mandžukić shook his head. "But that's Real Madrid. Even though we won last season, just thinking about playing them still feels disgusting. After all, that match we won was also very difficult; it almost made me vomit."
Recalling that final battle from last season.
Mandžukić still felt it was unbearable to look back on.
During that match, he was so nervous that he kept muttering 'Hurry up and end it.' He was just afraid that Suker would suddenly explode, or that Real Madrid would quickly counterattack and hit them hard.
"I feel like you have a phobia of Suker!" Cristiano Ronaldo said seriously.
Mandžukić pouted.
How could he not have a phobia?
Starting from Dinamo Zagreb, he was suppressed by Suker. He, a perfectly good target man, was transformed into a functional pivot forward.
He also tried to challenge, and at first, the gap wasn't that big, but then it grew wider and wider.
At the National Team level, how many times did Suker lead them to turn the tide from adversity, winning two Champions League titles and reaching the World Cup semi-finals? It could be said that Suker at that time relied solely on his individual ability to lead them through.
In this situation, he naturally developed this kind of psychology.
He understood Suker, but precisely because he understood, he found him terrifying.
That guy was simply not human!
"What are we eating for breakfast?" Mandžukić turned his head and asked.
Cristiano Ronaldo smiled: "I'll make you breakfast?"
Like Suker, Cristiano Ronaldo also liked to prepare his own meals.
But Mandžukić's attitude was completely different.
"I'm going to eat at the club!"
Was what Cristiano Ronaldo ate fit for human consumption? It had no flavor at all. He wasn't a wild animal, nor did he have Cristiano Ronaldo's perseverance. He still needed to satisfy his cravings.
After finishing their morning run, the two went their separate ways home.
They only came together again at training time, then took a car to Bayern Munich's training base.
"Come on! Defeat Real Madrid!"
As they drove into the training base, the security guard at the entrance vigorously clenched his fist towards them.
To this, Cristiano Ronaldo smiled and nodded, while Mandžukić grimaced.
"Damn it, stop bringing up this match, okay? Let me have some space to digest. Everyone acts like they're putting pressure on me."
He was truly scared!
It wasn't just the problem of the opponent being Real Madrid.
Now, within the team, he also had to compete with Robert Lewandowski for a starting spot.
This guy, Robert Lewandowski, was also quietly changing his style, focusing more on passing and game control.
One couldn't say he was doing better than Mandžukić, but his improvement was evident.
Mandžukić was truly afraid of being outdone by this guy, to the point where he wouldn't even get a starting position.
It could be said that Robert Lewandowski put a lot of pressure on him.
Fortunately, he was better at creating chances and feeding the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo; their chemistry was better, so naturally, he would start.
Entering the locker room, the atmosphere was noticeably heavier.
Schweinsteiger and Lahm were huddled together talking, it wasn't clear what they were saying, but their expressions were very serious.
Younger players like Alaba seemed a bit better, but they also didn't really want to mention that match.
Mandžukić and Cristiano Ronaldo also greeted their teammates.
As soon as they sat down, Lahm and Schweinsteiger came over.
"The next Champions League match will be a huge test for our forward line!" Lahm said seriously.
"Ha~~~~"
Mandžukić suddenly sighed, looking up at the sky.
Schweinsteiger asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Cristiano Ronaldo smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Don't mind him, you two continue."
"We discussed it and found that it's more advantageous for us when we attack. Only by speeding up the tempo can we play that kind of rapid offensive and defensive transition. And once Real Madrid slows down the tempo, we might be suppressed by their midfield!"
Regarding Real Madrid's midfield, Schweinsteiger and Lahm, among others, were very wary.
Especially the threat of Toni Kroos!
This guy, ever since he transferred to Real Madrid, his performance has been getting better and better. Now, he has truly grown into a top-tier midfielder.
And on their side, their two defensive midfielders were Lahm and Schweinsteiger; to be honest, they were getting a bit old.
Imagination was one aspect, but it was also a fact that they played more conservatively!
For this, they often needed Muller to create variations with his runs in the central midfield, then rely on Mandžukić's link-up play and Cristiano Ronaldo's crucial scoring ability to secure victory.
As for Real Madrid, their overall coherence was better.
Each position was independent, yet closely connected.
Cristiano Ronaldo also nodded, "This is also something I'm worried about. My goals still depend on the midfield's supply of ammunition. Once you guys are blocked, it will be very difficult for me. But…"
He changed the subject and smiled, "I believe the coaching staff will solve this problem."
Schweinsteiger still nodded seriously, "Let's hope so!"
Just then, the dressing room door was pushed open forcefully, and a cheerful voice rang out.
"Guys! Good morning, I believe this will be a pleasant day, bless you all."
As soon as Muller walked in, the entire dressing room suddenly became a bit noisy.
Schweinsteiger said with a look of disdain, "The troublemaker is here!"
With that, Muller suddenly turned to look at Schweinsteiger, who immediately got up, making a move to run away.
"Shit!"
"Good morning?"
"Good for nothing, stay away from me."
"Buddy, it's not good to be so grumpy in the morning. Let's sing loudly together and wish our day…"
"Who wants to sing with you? I told you, stay away from me!"
"Is that so?"
Muller mischievously leaned closer, and Schweinsteiger was on the verge of exploding.
Muller blinked and reached out to poke the star on Schweinsteiger's left chest.
"You dog!"
Schweinsteiger suddenly jumped up.
Muller, on the other hand, sprinted away, looking not like he was fleeing in fear, but rather saying, "Come chase me!"
Watching the two of them fooling around in the dressing room, their teammates couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The tense atmosphere from before instantly disappeared.
During daily training, Guardiola looked at the players training diligently on the field and nodded slightly.
He turned to his assistant and asked, "Any news from Real Madrid?"
The assistant shook his head, "Currently, they are still continuing with some of their original tactics. It seems like there hasn't been any development of new tactics, though it's also possible they are hiding something."
Guardiola's expression became slightly serious.
Although he won a match last season, avenging his failures at Barcelona, he still felt a bit heavy-hearted.
Coupled with the presence of Ancelotti, the tactical master, Real Madrid became even more proficient in attack this season.
To be honest, Real Madrid's front three are really difficult to deal with.
But their attacking and counter-attacking abilities are equally outstanding, and with his own improvements, Bayern Munich's midfield is also strong enough.
Yet, there was still a hint of solemnity in his heart.
Guardiola's standing at Bayern Munich is very high now, after all, he won the treble in his first season leading the team.
Guardiola's performance exceeded expectations by quite a bit.
This also earned him the Bundesliga and UEFA Coach of the Year awards.
But precisely because of this, Guardiola wanted to keep winning even more.
"However… there have been some small changes in Real Madrid's recent matches," the assistant suddenly said.
Guardiola raised an eyebrow, "What changes?"
"Suker always moves towards the center!"
"Moves towards the center?" Guardiola turned his head, "Isn't that normal?"
"Yes! But such data rising sharply during this period seems very abnormal," the assistant said gravely, "It has increased by a full 10 percentage points!"
Upon hearing this, Guardiola nodded silently.
This indeed needs attention!
However, Guardiola believed this was a method for Real Madrid to strengthen their central attack.
Previously, Suker would also move towards the center to relieve pressure on the midfield and solidify the cooperation in the attacking midfield.
But if it was such a change, it was still within Guardiola's expectations. He was only afraid that Ancelotti would pull out a highly variable yet perplexing style of play.
After all, that old man is truly good at doing such things.
There were a total of 20 days of preparation time between the Champions League Quarter-Finals and the Champions League Semi-Final.
It was still a two-week preparation period.
Both teams' players were preparing during this stage, and neither Real Madrid nor Bayern Munich revealed any tactical information.
However, various unconfirmed rumors were still flying around in the media.
This also indirectly highlighted the intensity of this match!
On April 23rd, the first Champions League Semi-Final match kicked off.
Atletico Madrid hosted Chelsea.
The styles of these two teams were similar.
One was Chelsea, led by the veteran coach Mourinho, and the other was Atletico Madrid, led by the young coach Simeone.
The two teams played out a fierce 90-minute goalless draw at Atletico Madrid's home.
The match itself had a high level of excitement!
On one hand, it was due to Atletico Madrid's dark horse status, coupled with the clash between the old and new coaches.
On the other hand, the super showdown between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich had already laid the groundwork for its excitement.
But no one expected that what was thought to be a fierce exchange of attacks and counter-attacks would ultimately turn out to be various passive defenses.
In this match, Mourinho was also criticized a lot.
Atletico Madrid adopting a conservative style of play was understandable, after all, they were Champions League newcomers, and they indeed needed to play steadily and cautiously.
But Chelsea!
How many years have they been seeking a Champions League title? Shouldn't they have gone all out?
Playing so passively, how could they win?
Despite the goalless draw away from home, Chelsea did not receive much applause.
Mourinho was even criticized as an 'old-fashioned' coach.
Even some fans were heartbroken.
The old Mourinho, even if he was called a defensive master, would adapt to the situation and never hesitate to attack when needed, a pure pragmatist.
But now, after studying in Serie A and winning the Champions League consecutively in La Liga, he has become somewhat constrained or conservative.
In this match, neither team managed to deliver a particularly exciting performance.
This also made the match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich even more anticipated.
Everyone placed their expectations on this match.
In this situation, attention was also focused on Munich, Allianz Arena.
This match received an exceptionally high level of attention.
Whether it was media reporters or the gathering fans, there were far more than usual.
Even the entrance to Bayern Munich's training base and the entrance to Real Madrid's hotel were directly set up with live broadcast vehicles.
From the afternoon, these broadcast vehicles began their work.
They recorded the entire process from the hotel to the stadium.
During this time, Suker and Cristiano Ronaldo were naturally the focus of the filming.
Unfortunately, they did not get any interview rights!
UEFA also hoped that the two would make an appearance to promote the event, exchange words, and hype up the excitement.
But both refused, and UEFA was met with a rebuff.
However, the event's excitement was sufficient, so they didn't mind these things.
Munich at night, neon lights flashing.
Allianz Arena under the moonlight was also brightly lit.
Before the match even began, shouts already roared like thunder.
As both teams warmed up on the field, fans around the world were also Excited with anticipation.
They were all predicting the outcome of the match and the performance of each player.
Overall, the expectations were high.
After another relatively lackluster Champions League match, this one felt even more anticipated.
The camera frequently switched between Suker and Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, not much emotion could be seen from the expressions of these two players. Both are Champions League veterans and big-match players; they wouldn't be overly nervous because of such a match.
But the seriousness and solemnity on their faces were still discernible.
After warm-ups, both teams' players returned to their respective dressing rooms for final preparations.
Ancelotti stood in the middle of the dressing room and said loudly:
"It's time for revenge, and it's time to show them our results. Go boldly into the match and win it!"
Ancelotti seemed full of confidence.
Their preparation during this period was sufficient, or rather, they had been preparing since the beginning of the season.
His tactical reserves were definitely enough; so far, they hadn't exposed too many tactics, possessing sufficient depth.
And in this match, he would give Bayern Munich and Guardiola a big surprise!