Bayern celebrate a long-awaited win in Madrid
Bayern spent the night in Madrid celebrating a major result at the Bernabéu after a victory that, according to club chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen, had not been achieved in the city for 25 years.
At the traditional dinner with the players before the squad returned to Germany on Wednesday, Dreesen reminded everyone just how unusual the result was.
"We have won here for the first time in 25 years. Back in 2001, it was Giovane Élber with the 0-1; today, this team delivered this victory," he said. "Today we had something in our game that Real did not have: our X factor, our man in his forties, our world-class goalkeeper. Manuel, today you were extraordinary."
He added that Bayern had every reason to feel satisfied with the opening leg, but not to get carried away.
"That is why there was reason to be happy about this successful start. But only 90 minutes have been played and we still need to deliver at least another 90 in the return leg. Real have the quality to turn a match like this around at any moment, but we do too," he said.
Anger over police action against supporters
Away from the pitch, though, Bayern were far less pleased.
The club has complained about incidents involving supporters as they entered the stadium through the usual access point for visiting fans. The German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reported Dreesen’s reaction, quoting him as saying: "This action against our peaceful supporters is incomprehensible and unacceptable. It cannot be that this kind of police behaviour has become almost normal at away matches in Europe."
Tension after the security meeting
The same newspaper also reported a detail from Tuesday morning’s pre-match security meeting that reportedly caught Bayern officials off guard.
"According to witnesses, the Spanish police commander arrived in full riot gear. In other words, he was wearing the heaviest bulletproof vest available at a police station, along with military boots. In hindsight, his presence could be interpreted as a warning," the paper said.
For a team celebrating a rare win in Madrid, the evening came with the usual football diplomacy and, apparently, the not-so-usual irritation that arrives when police and away fans get involved. Europa keeps finding ways to make the basics look theatrical.
