If the Madrid players want to draw inspiration for overcoming Borussia next Tuesday, they just need to look back to the game that saw them beat Germany's other great side, Bayern Munich, in the Champions League semis last year.
The 'Blancos' eventually went out on penalties, but were already 1-0 up after six minutes - which would have qualified them – and went two clear on 14 minutes. That quarter-hour spell is the embodiment of everything the Real Madrid needs to be when the game kicks off next Tuesday at 20:45 (Spanish time). The Bernabéu was a veritable cauldron and the Germans didn't know how to stop 'Los Blancos', who put themselves into a qualifying position with two goals from, yes you guessed it, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The first came in the sixth minute. Marcelo's cross into the area was met by Di María, whose shot to the far post cannoned off Alaba's arm. A grave mistake that Madrid's number 7 didn't leave unpunished. Real's perfect storm continued, and before the fans had calmed down from the first goal, the Bernabéu was already celebrating number two. Khedira lost the ball but the rebound fell to Özil who put Ronaldo clear for a one-on-one, and CR7 was once more found in an unforgiving mood, slotting home at the near post. The players joined together in celebration and sent the fans wild, since they could already see their side in the final.
However, Mourinho told the team to sit back and Bayern managed to pull a goal back to take the tie to penalties. Even though Madrid eventually lost in the shootout, those first 14 minutes are the inspiration that the team needs. The players have to come out of the blocks sprinting, with perfect unison between the team and the fans. It's just a shame that the 'Bayern effect' petered out later in the game.
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