Bayern's Kompany Cautious After Champions League First-Leg Win Over Real Madrid
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has struck a measured tone following his side's 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabéu. The win gives the German side a narrow advantage to take back to the Allianz Arena for next Wednesday's decisive return fixture.
Speaking to Viaplay after the match, Kompany described the feeling in the camp as "okay," emphasising that the job is only half done. "We did something positive to try to get into the next round. It feels like half-time. There haven’t been too many big celebrations, it’s been quite contained," the Belgian coach said. Bayern established a two-goal lead through strikes from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane before a Kylian Mbappé goal brought the Spanish giants back into the tie late on.
Kompany refused to characterise the concession as his team letting Real Madrid back into the game, instead pointing to the inherent quality of the opposition. "I wouldn’t say we let them back into the game, although we had some chances that we didn’t finish. They have so much quality and are always able to create something," he noted. He stressed that the objective remains clear for the second leg: "We have to try to win the next game at the Allianz as well."
When asked to explain how his team secured a rare away win at the Bernabéu, Kompany pointed to the performance of his key players. "You need quality, that’s the first thing. Of course you need spirit and mentality too, but against a team as good as this, you need quality players. Our best players are performing right now, and that gives us a chance," he stated. The former Manchester City captain now faces the task of ensuring his squad replicates that level for the second consecutive week.
The result represents a significant boost for Kompany in his first season at the helm, with Bayern having wrestled domestic inconsistency all year. Their Bundesliga title defence has faltered, making European success a primary target for the campaign. The performance, particularly in the first hour, demonstrated a tactical discipline and attacking threat that has sometimes been absent in league play.
For Real Madrid, coached by Carlo Ancelotti, the result leaves work to do but the single-goal deficit is far from insurmountable, especially with an away goal secured. The Spanish champions have a formidable record in this competition and will back themselves to overturn the result in Munich. The stage is set for a high-stakes conclusion at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 CET.
