„We are still alive!“ – Real stars send a challenge to Bayern | OneFootball

Despite losing the first leg of their quarter-final against FC Bayern, Real Madrid’s stars are fighting for their comeback in Munich

Real Madrid lost the quarter-final first leg against FC Bayern 2-1, but there is no sign of resignation among the Whites. Instead, the Madrid stars are sending a clear message to Munich: this duel is far from over

Real Madrid’s chances of winning a title at national level are slim. They were surprisingly knocked out of the Copa del Rey by second-division side Albacete and are already seven points behind FC Barcelona in La Liga after their recent defeat in Mallorca. The Champions League therefore remains the last realistic chance of winning a title this season

This makes the second leg at the Allianz Arena all the more important. Despite the home defeat at the Bernabéu, coach Alvaro Arbeloa’s team are convinced they can still turn the tie around. As several Spanish media outlets have reported, there is still a great deal of belief internally in a comeback

Real stars show fighting spirit and self-confidence

photo: Getty Images

The statements after the game speak for themselves. Vinicius Junior summed up the mood: „We’re alive! We have to believe!“ Captain Fede Valverde was also combative: „We’re convinced that we’ll turn things around.“

Even players who had major problems in the first leg were optimistic: left-back Àlvaro Carreras, who repeatedly faltered against Michael Olise in particular, said: „The second half is still to come and we’ll turn things around.“

Antonio Rüdiger also underlined the unbroken belief within the team: „This story is far from over. We’re still alive. We believe in ourselves to the end!“ At the same time, the DFB international referred to the chances in the first leg: „Everything is open after Mbappé’s goal. I think we had chances to score more goals, but in the end that’s the way it is.“

Focus on Munich – Real believe in their comeback qualities

The route for the second leg is clearly defined. Trent Alexander-Arnold made it clear what will be important: „It’s only half-time. We have to score at least one goal there, if not more. The aim is to win this competition. We will give everything to get through to the next round. The task is big.“

Coach Alvaro Arbeloa also sees a chance – despite the difficult starting position: „Of course it will be anything but easy in Munich, but if any team can do it, it’s Real Madrid.“

Keeper Andrij Lunin, who deputised for the injured Thibaut Courtois, is also looking ahead with a fighting spirit: „We’re still in the game. It will be more difficult, but we believe in ourselves. It’s the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It was clear that it wouldn’t be easy. We’ll give it our all there. In Munich, of course, we have to score – and we can’t concede a goal.“

One setback for the second leg, however, is the absence of Aurélien Tchouaméni. The midfielder picked up his third yellow card in the first leg and will be suspended in Munich. Nevertheless, the Frenchman is optimistic: „We will give everything in the second leg. With the quality we have, we can achieve great things.“

The message from Madrid is clear: Real still believe in themselves – and in their own history in the Champions League. For FC Bayern, this means that maximum vigilance will be required in the second leg, because anyone who knows Real Madrid knows that the Whites are at their most dangerous when they are already looking battered.