Bayern's Luis Díaz reflects on missed chances after crucial Madrid win
Luis Díaz has expressed a mixture of satisfaction and frustration after scoring in Bayern Munich’s 2-1 Champions League semi-final first-leg victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday. The Colombian winger netted a crucial away goal at the Santiago Bernabéu but admitted his side missed opportunities to take a firmer grip on the tie ahead of next week’s return leg in Germany.
Speaking to Movistar after the match, Díaz labelled the encounter “a testing match” and credited his team’s execution of their game plan, particularly in the first half. “Madrid are strong, at home. We had a good game plan and executed it pretty well,” he said. The 27-year-old, however, underlined his regret at the chances Bayern failed to convert, which he believes would have made their advantage more comfortable heading into the second leg.
“We had chances to put the tie firmly in our control,” Díaz added. “This was just the result we wanted but we go away with a bittersweet feeling that we could have scored at least once more.” His sentiments echoed those of teammate Harry Kane, who also highlighted the team’s profligacy in front of goal in his own post-match comments. The narrow margin of victory leaves the semi-final delicately poised for the decisive meeting at the Allianz Arena.
Díaz’s goal continues a strong individual campaign since his high-profile move from Liverpool to Bayern Munich last summer. The winger has been a consistent attacking threat for the Bundesliga side, adapting quickly to Thomas Tuchel’s system. His pace and direct running were on full display in Madrid, causing persistent problems for the Real defence throughout the evening.
The result represents a significant step for Bayern in their quest to reach the final at Wembley, but Díaz stressed the need for immediate focus on the task ahead. “We need to pay full attention and be super-ready for what's to come next week,” he said. The Colombian’s call for improvement reflects the general mood in the Bayern camp, which recognises that a single-goal lead is precarious against the record 14-time European champions. The second leg in Munich promises to be a tense conclusion to a finely balanced tie.
