Guardiola Acknowledges Real Madrid’s Strength but Remains Optimistic After Champions League Setback
Pep Guardiola praised Real Madrid’s counter-attacking prowess after Bayern Munich were defeated 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night. Karim Benzema’s first-half goal proved to be the difference at the Santiago Bernabéu, giving the Spanish side a narrow advantage heading into next week’s return leg.
Despite the loss, Guardiola remained resolute and refused to concede defeat, expressing confidence that Bayern Munich could still make a comeback.
“Congratulations to Real Madrid,” Guardiola said in his post-match interview with Canal+ Spain. “They’re very fast, they’re the best team in the world on the counterattack. We wanted to control the game with possession, but we missed out. There’s another game to go. We’ll try to come back. We’ll attack to try to get back on track.”
Bayern had struggled to break down Real Madrid’s disciplined defence, while Madrid capitalized on the few opportunities they had, with Benzema’s clinical finish proving decisive.
Guardiola’s side will now need to overturn the deficit in the second leg at the Allianz Arena next Tuesday. Bayern will look to exploit home advantage and produce a performance capable of reversing the scoreline, but they will need to improve their offensive play if they are to take down Madrid.
The second leg promises to be a thrilling encounter as Bayern Munich aim to maintain their hopes of reaching the final, while Real Madrid will be determined to hold onto their slim advantage.
