Mbappe Rescues Real Madrid With Crucial Lifeline Against Bayern Munich: Player Ratings

Real Madrid fell to a 2–1 loss against Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday evening, though a spirited late showing will give the home side confidence ahead of their visit to Germany next week.

The two continental powerhouses could barely pause for breath in the opening half, trading attacks in what proved to be an exhilarating contest. A momentary lapse in focus from Los Blancos, however, allowed Luis Díaz to hand Bayern the advantage in the 41st minute.

The pattern continued after the break. A turnover from Álvaro Carreras eventually resulted in Harry Kane extending Vincent Kompany's side's lead to 2–0 in the 46th minute. Real Madrid refused to surrender without a fight, pulling a goal back through Kylian Mbappé, though Trent Alexander-Arnold's delivery deserves the lion's share of the credit.

Everything remains up for grabs in the second leg next Wednesday, with the victors earning a place in the Champions League semifinals.

Winners and Losers

Winners

Arda Güler appeared to merely be holding Jude Bellingham's spot in the starting lineup while the England international recovered from his hamstring problem. Yet the young Turkish midfielder delivered a sharp performance on Tuesday. He created four chances—which his teammates failed to convert—and misplaced just four passes. His display gives Arbeloa plenty to consider once Bellingham returns to full fitness.

Trent Alexander-Arnold drew criticism for his defensive work at the weekend and likely faced more scrutiny in his own half against Bayern. But what he concedes defensively, he more than compensates for with his extraordinary right foot. The fullback whipped in the decisive cross that gave Real Madrid a lifeline in the tie.

Losers

Álvaro Carreras had a poor outing at the weekend in his first start since March 2, and did little to improve his standing on Tuesday. His numbers from the match don't fully capture how badly he was exposed by Michael Olise, but this detail might: The Spaniard was so overwhelmed that Güler, of all players, repeatedly had to drop back to cover for him defensively.

Kylian Mbappé was another player who failed to bounce back from his poor showing at the weekend. The Frenchman found space behind Bayern's defensive line on several occasions, yet saw his clear-cut opportunities—which he should have converted—denied by Manuel Neuer before eventually slotting home a tap-in. A player of his caliber simply must perform at a higher level if Real Madrid are to reach Budapest.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs. Bayern Munich (4-4-2)

*Ratings Provided by FotMob*

GK: Andriy Lunin—7.1: Repeatedly misjudged balls when coming off his line to claim set pieces. Could have done more to prevent Bayern's second goal.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold—7.7: Perhaps a little unfair to blame him for Díaz's goal, though it certainly didn't look ideal. Sent the Bernabéu crowd into raptures with a superb cross to locate Mbappé. Delivered outstanding dead-ball service throughout the match.

CB: Antonio Rüdiger—5.9: At one stage desperately called for support from his teammates. Did his best to use his physical presence to unsettle Kane inside the penalty area.

CB: Dean Huijsen—6.2: Nerves got the better of him in the opening stages and he never fully settled. Showed his technical ability with a confident burst forward, but that was arguably his only notable contribution.

LB: Álvaro Carreras—5.9: Produced a goal-line clearance in the 10th minute, but things deteriorated rapidly after that. Completely outclassed by Michael Olise, beaten repeatedly. Caught out on Díaz's goal and gave the ball away for Kane's.

RM: Federico Valverde—7.0: Showed he is human after all, as evidenced by his giveaway just outside his own box. Looked lively in patches, however, and sparked the move that led to Real Madrid's goal.

CM: Thiago Pitarch—5.9: Played a dreadful back-pass to Lunin that fortunately didn't result in a goal for the visitors. Left virtually no impression on the match.

CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—6.8: Was reminded of last season as he spent considerable time dropping into a center-back role to shore up the defense. Picked up a costly yellow card that rules him out of the second leg.

LM: Arda Güler—7.5: Made an immediate impact with a stunning through ball that Mbappé should have finished. A constant outlet in transition and even stepped in to help a struggling Carreras deal with Olise.

ST: Kylian Mbappé—8.1: Bayern's defensive line had no answer for the Frenchman at full pace, yet he squandered a string of chances before eventually converting a tap-in.

ST: Vinicius Junior—7.3: Stretched Bayern's backline with relative ease but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. Failed to even test Neuer in a one-on-one situation. Gave the ball away in the build-up to the game's opening goal.

SUB: Éder Militão (62' for Huijsen)—6.1: Immediately helped bring some stability to Real Madrid's unsettled defensive line.

SUB: Jude Bellingham (62' for Pitarch)—6.8: Injected energy into his side. Defended diligently when required, fashioned a dangerous opportunity, and was composed in possession.

SUB: Brahim Díaz (71' for Güler)—6.8: Content to play a supporting role alongside Mbappé and Vinicius Jr.

Subs not used: Fran González (GK), Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Fran García, Raúl Asencio, Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga, Franco Mastantuono, Gonzalo García.

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Real Madrid's Champions League Loss