Although they didn't score, the match's excitement was fully ignited.
Real Madrid's tactics and playing style in this match were completely different from before.
Ancelotti's use of Suker was also unexpected.
"I believe that in the entire football world, Ancelotti is the coach who understands Suker the best and can get the most out of him!"
"He never uses Suker as a pure attacker, but instead lets him fully utilize his style, combining it with tactics to exploit his characteristics more subtly."
"From the start of this match, Real Madrid gave off an extremely stable feeling, especially in the attacking midfield. Their offensive methods also became richer. A Suker hiding behind Benzema and Bale is much more dangerous than a Suker actively charging forward!"
"No one knows when Suker will make a forward run, and no one knows whether he will choose to pass or shoot."
González hit the nail on the head.
Bayern Munich's players were indeed very wary of this.
Suker's passing and shooting are both top-notch.
This means he is a player with both scoring and assisting abilities.
Therefore, when he enters the dangerous area, his threat level will greatly increase.
They need to get close to Suker, and without being able to guarantee containment, they must judge whether he will pass or shoot.
By the time all that happens, Suker would have already completed his shot or assist.
Therefore, they need to mobilize more manpower to fill the gaps, but in doing so, Suker can become a 'hook'.
Ancelotti's tactics here are a bit like fishing for bigmouth bass.
Even without bait, they can't help but get close.
Bayern Munich's players exchanged glances, their expressions grim.
In fact, the situation was much more severe than what the fans saw; Real Madrid was too easily breaking through their defensive line.
They truly didn't expect Suker's Rainbow Pass.
But Suker doesn't just have this one passing method; his through balls are also very good.
However, if they focus too much on him, Kroos and Kaka, those two shuttles, are always ready, and their passing and assisting abilities are equally outstanding.
It can be said that in this match, these three will take turns forming a powerful projectile delivery chain.
Until Benzema and Bale are fully fed.
Even if Benzema and Bale's form is indeed poor and they can't score a single goal, there's still Suker hiding behind them, ready to attack at any time.
And facing Real Madrid's playing style, Bayern Munich was truly unprepared.
"They fell for it!"
Guardiola frowned deeply; in the current situation, he truly couldn't find a very good solution.
He can only restrict them according to the normal way of restricting a 4-3-1-2 formation.
As for whatever strange moves Real Madrid pulls, they will have to bite the bullet and deal with them.
At the same time, he also hoped that his own attacking line could quickly score goals. Goals are the guarantee, and leading is the beginning of the situation unfolding.
Therefore, it's too early to say anything now.
After a goal, the situation is still the situation.
It won't distinguish between advantage or disadvantage!
Only goals can delineate these, ultimately forming a clear superior or inferior side.
So, both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich want to score as soon as possible, which also makes the pace of the match even more intense.
"Bayern Munich's counterattack! Schweinsteiger pushed the ball to Muller in front. Muller, with his back to goal, chipped the ball over. Ronaldo distributed it very well. Can Muller catch up?"
The German commentator's eyes widened as he looked at the big screen.
Bayern Munich's counterattack was as sharp as ever, and Muller's positioning exploited some of Real Madrid's defensive weaknesses.
However, Real Madrid's defenders are all experienced.
Srna had already made an early judgment, and before Muller, he made an extreme sliding tackle, kicking the ball to Casemiro, who was supporting in front.
"Oh!!! Srna, his judgment is too accurate, and he's very daring with his tackles. This means he has full confidence in winning the ball first. Compared to before, Srna's form has indeed fluctuated a bit, which has prevented him from fully securing Real Madrid's starting position. But for veterans like him in crucial Champions League matches, their experience and mentality can provide great help to the team."
After completing the tackle, Srna quickly observed and then ran forward at a frantic pace without stopping.
He swiftly passed Casemiro and sprinted directly along the outside wing.
Bale saw this and also actively moved inward.
Bale used to always want to move towards the center, which caused some problems, and he never got his wish.
But in this match, he could run towards the center without restraint.
The central area has higher importance, as it allows for larger shooting angles. Therefore, any disruption to a team's central axis defense is a sign of a collapsing defensive line.
Bayern Munich also understood this, so they defended the center and left the flanks open.
They tightly marked Bale and Benzema, allowing the two sides to move freely. As long as the ball wasn't sent into the dangerous area, they wouldn't be in too much danger.
Casemiro almost blindly passed the ball to Suker's feet in front.
Suker ran from left to right, finally stopping in the right half-space.
Bale was in front, and Benzema and Srna were on either side.
But the two players in the middle were marked, so he could only pass the ball to Srna to try something.
After receiving the ball, Srna also made some moves, trying to trick Alaba's center of gravity.
Alaba did fall for the feint, but he was agile enough to quickly return to his defensive position. Plus, Srna's body was no longer as nimble as before, making it quite difficult to complete a breakaway.
Because of this, Srna didn't risk trying, but instead safely passed the ball back to Kroos.
Kroos pushed the ball straight forward, and the ball once again came to Suker's feet.
As the ball rolled towards Suker, three surrounding Bayern Munich players had already moved early, starting to close in on Suker.
"Suker is in danger!"
Before receiving the ball, Suker had already observed and realized this problem.
He unhurriedly stepped on the ball with his right foot, his whole body leaning forward to the right, looking as if he was going to turn to the right, but the ball he was stepping on was pulled back behind him, to the left.
Suker continued to run to the right, but the ball was distributed to the left.
And Bayern Munich's players' attention was mostly on Suker, so they didn't expect Suker to distribute the ball like that.
The ball was immediately returning to Kroos's feet after his forward run.
"Suker~~ That's a brilliant play!" González exclaimed again.
González believed Suker had many ways to handle it; even with his dribbling ability, he might have been able to break through that encirclement.
But clearing the ball like this was clearly more effortless and easier.
Most importantly, the tempo wasn't dragged down.
Suker was still running forward, simultaneously pointing to the space in front of him, signaling Kroos to pass it back.
Kroos wasn't sure what Suker wanted to do, but he still passed the ball.
Suker saw where the ball would land and accelerated again, rushing towards it.
Bayern Munich's defense immediately got into position, once again forming a containment around Suker.
Suker saw this and understood Bayern Munich's determination to restrict him.
But Suker also doesn't hold onto the ball.
He half-turned, his whole body facing the attacking side with his back to goal, on one hand blocking Boateng's vision, and on the other hand making it easier for Suker to execute his next move.
The ball continued to roll, and Suker lightly flicked the ball with the top of his foot.
While flicking the ball, his calf made a noticeable trembling motion. This motion ensured the ball wouldn't be flicked too high, allowing it to create a reasonable arc.
However, Boateng couldn't see this because his vision was blocked by Suker.
Therefore, as he was still focused on Suker's back, the ball suddenly flew in a parabolic arc over his head to the space behind him.
"Oh no!"
Boateng was startled.
He quickly turned his head, looking for Benzema's position.
But that guy had started early and was already behind him.
"This ball!!! Benzema's chance!!"
Benzema rushed to the landing spot, his expression incredibly focused, adjusting his steps with quick, small movements.
He wouldn't give Boateng a chance to catch up and interfere with him.
He also wouldn't control the ball, but would shoot directly.
While Benzema's finishing wasn't as brilliant as Suker's, it was still very reliable.
Even though at Real Madrid, he could only serve as a target man.
But this was only because this was Real Madrid, and there were too many prodigious talents here.
Put him on any other team, and he would still be a key, core-level player.
Before Suker's flick, the two had already exchanged glances.
Suker's eyes seemed to speak, conveying only one word: 'Run.' As for how to run?
They had rehearsed this countless times in tactical runs.
It could be said that Benzema could find the landing spot of the ball with his eyes closed.
Watching the descending ball, as his left foot landed, his right foot sharply pulled back behind him, his core driving his thigh, his thigh driving his calf, and he struck the ball with a powerful shot.
Bang!
His right foot struck the ball solidly.
This strong impact felt incredibly satisfying to Benzema.
Neuer, the Goalkeeper in front of the goal, visibly flinched. He was positioned slightly to the right of the center, thinking Benzema would shoot near post. After all, it's hard to control the angle with a volley, and that position would be the easiest to catch or even block with his body.
But... Benzema's volley was aimed at the angle!
As he shot, he twisted his waist sharply, driving the ball towards the left side.
Even if Neuer was excellent, he looked helpless facing this shot.
Swish!
The ball hit the net, and the entire Allianz Arena suddenly fell silent.
"Benzema!! That shot was incredibly tricky!!"
"Goal!! Real Madrid scores first! Their tactical change in this match has paid off. They've broken through Bayern Munich's goal early, and now all the pressure is on Bayern Munich!"
"Karim Benzema, a striker hidden in Suker's shadow! Suker's overwhelming brilliance has made us overlook this star from France!"
"Before becoming a target man, he was also a super striker!"
"A brilliant goal! A brilliant assist!"
"This is a connection between Suker and Benzema! The pass was clever, and the shot was wonderful!"
González was very excited.
He hadn't expected a goal to come so early; a few offensive attempts in the first half would have been enough, as long as they maintained that rhythm.
But Real Madrid played even more decisively; they had no so-called probing, every attack was for real.
They scored directly before Bayern Munich had fully adapted to their rhythm and playing style.
This goal was significant, not only giving them a lead in the score but also a greater advantage in the overall situation.
Bayern Munich would be extremely passive; they would be forced to attack.
And once they attacked proactively and pushed high, Real Madrid would have opportunities for counterattacks, further extending their lead.
"We got it!"
Ancelotti also vigorously waved his arms, showing great excitement.
This tactical setup was designed to play proactively.
If they conceded first, the entire tactic would become meaningless.
In this match against Bayern Munich, Ancelotti not only wanted to win, but he also wanted to win beautifully.
That's why he brought out this tactical approach!
And now, thanks to the excellent performance of Real Madrid's players, they scored the first goal.
This goal would allow them to better showcase their abilities in the rest of the match.
At Allianz Arena, Real Madrid's players were celebrating wildly.
Benzema was even more excited, leaping repeatedly and vigorously pumping his fists, releasing his inner exhilaration.
After his teammates caught up to celebrate with him, Benzema excitedly asked:
"Was that goal cool or what?"
Even in his opinion, that shot was incredibly outstanding.
It was a stroke of genius.
At the moment of the shot, his footwork was adjusted perfectly, allowing him a quick glance at the goal.
After confirming Neuer's position, he thought about whether he could hit a diagonal shot.
Once the idea surfaced, it became unstoppable.
With a 'let's try it' attitude, he took a shot, and to his surprise, not only did he keep it down, but the angle was also excellent.
"Did you learn that shot from Suker?"
Bale smiled and extended both hands, high-fiving Benzema vigorously.
Twisting the waist to hit a diagonal shot was one of Suker's signature moves.
This requires extremely strong shooting skills and a resilient body; most people genuinely can't attempt it.
It puts a huge strain on the knees, core muscles, and thigh muscle groups.
But Benzema replicated it perfectly, which shows his talent.
In fact, Benzema was indeed imitating Suker.
Suker's astonishing diagonal volley back then had truly stunned him.
Since then, he had wanted to imitate it, and during training, he would put in extra work on his shooting ability.
This was also the first time he had attempted such a shot in a match, and he hadn't expected it to result in a goal.
"Praise the Goddess of Fortune!"
Benzema whispered a prayer, then raised his hand and kissed his bandage repeatedly.
This was his lucky bandage!
Indeed, luck bonus MAX!
"The situation is not very favorable for us; this goal conceded too early."
The German commentator's expression was grave.
Conceding a goal in the 13th minute would make Bayern Munich extremely passive for the remainder of the match.
Crucially, they hadn't fully adapted to Real Madrid's tactical approach yet. From adapting to the rhythm, finding breakthroughs, to scoring and equalizing, it would take some time.
And during this period, they not only had to attack but also had to defend well.
With both sides not fully open, the overall development of the situation became even more difficult.
"Perhaps we should rely more on Ronaldo!"
Just as Suker was crucial for Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo also played a pivotal role in Bayern Munich's lineup.
As Bayern Munich's top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo's performance in this match couldn't be described as outstanding yet.
Of course, this also had to do with him becoming a pure striker!
When his teammates were suppressed and couldn't create favorable attacking situations, Cristiano Ronaldo's position became very awkward.
This was also why Suker, during his transition period, didn't consider becoming a pure striker; it relies too much on teammates.
Once teammates are struggling, and he himself cannot produce an effective offensive development, the game becomes increasingly difficult to play.
After the celebration ended, Bayern Munich prepared to kick off again.
Their expressions were quite serious; the development of this match was not in line with their imagined rhythm.
Although conceding a goal was an issue, they urgently needed to regain their own rhythm now.
To this end, Bayern Munich intended to play more intensely and speed up the pace.
"Bayern Munich has started to actively pick up the pace; they cannot let Real Madrid control the midfield so leisurely; they must put more pressure on them!"
As the German commentator stated, after Bayern Munich accelerated the pace, their wing attacks also became much swifter.
Bayern Munich's main attacking movements involved Cristiano Ronaldo making diagonal runs forward, Mandžukić dropping back to receive and act as a pivot, while Robben primarily played an assisting role.
Of course, Robben's inward cuts and shots were also very threatening.
If his inward cuts and shots combined with crosses to Cristiano Ronaldo, these two elements, when well-coordinated, would cause many headaches.
However, they hadn't yet executed such a combination.
Because of this, Robben mostly focused on getting to the byline and crossing, creating opportunities for Cristiano Ronaldo to win headers.
But Cristiano Ronaldo was also struggling; Real Madrid's marking on him was not much easier than their marking on Suker.
Caught between Ramos and Pepe, Cristiano Ronaldo, despite jumping, found it difficult to make effective headers.
Even if he grazed the ball, it would be easily caught by Real Madrid's Goalkeeper or swatted away.
Bayern Munich's offense appeared somewhat monotonous.
Or rather, they relied too heavily on Cristiano Ronaldo's performance.
"Ronaldo's goal-scoring efficiency is commendable, but Bayern Munich has become too accustomed to Ronaldo's goals. They know that playing this way is easier, and once they become dependent, the overall attacking pattern will become rigid!"
Ancelotti said slowly.
He had encountered this very problem during the final stages of his coaching at Milan.
Milan relied too heavily on Suker!
And after he left, Milan struggled the following season.
While Suker's absence was certainly a reason, Milan's over-reliance on Suker and their excessive habit of Suker's goals also led to a rigid mindset.
Without Suker, it was as if they didn't know how to play football anymore.
And Guardiola's Bayern Munich is now gradually facing these same issues.