Renewed Focus for Bayern as Tuchel Eyes Madrid Victory
Despite conceding a late equalizer in a thrilling 2-2 draw, Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel declared his team ready to overcome Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Bayern fought back from Vinicius Jr.’s first-half opener with goals from Leroy Sane and a Harry Kane penalty. However, Vinicius Jr. struck again from the penalty spot late in the second half to level the tie.
“The score is what it is, and dwelling on it won’t help,” said Tuchel, who will depart Bayern at season’s end. “[Real Madrid] have a history of capitalizing on chances, and they did that again today. We had a strong start but faltered. We had opportunities to extend our lead but lacked composure. We also gifted them a penalty.”
While Bayern dominated possession and created opportunities, they’ll need a victory in Madrid next week to reach the final at Wembley. Borussia Dortmund take on Paris Saint-Germain in the other semi-final clash.
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“The situation is clear,” Tuchel emphasized. “It’s winner-takes-all in Madrid. We’re prepared to fight. Belief is crucial. It’s still a 50-50 chance. While Madrid is a notoriously difficult venue, that’s what makes this challenge exhilarating.”