Why we'll never forget this Bayern night against Real Madrid

Where do you start and where do you end when it comes to telling the story of this magical Champions League night? A dramatisation with enough material for its own stage play - indeed, for an entire bookshelf. A story packed with emotions, positive and negative explosions, so intense, so fierce that everyone who experienced these 90 minutes - whether in the Allianz Arena, which was packed to the brim, or alone in front of the television - felt a tremendous sense of exhaustion at the end. "There were so many emotions in this game," summarised FC Bayern's head coach Vincent Kompany. And Aleksandar Pavlović stated: "The stress levels were enormous today."

Huge contribution from the FC Bayern fans

The 4-3 home win over Real Madrid after going behind three times, this triumphant and dramatic progression to the semi-finals of the Champions League, had cost not only the players all their strength. And this time it wasn't just the players on the pitch who ultimately defeated Real Madrid, it was also the fans in the Südkurve, who sang and roared until they were hoarse, the supporters from the very young to the very old, from the lower tier right up to the roof of the stadium, who all played their part in ensuring that this wonderful FC Bayern can now continue to dream of winning the trophy in Europe's premier club competition. "The fans helped us," said Kompany: "You always had the feeling the team would come back."

But those 90 minutes against Real offered so much more than a football match usually does. "It was very dramatic", commented Joshua Kimmich: "There was a lot going on in the first half. The second half was a bit quieter, fewer goalscoring opportunities, not quite as spectacular - but the last five minutes were really quite something." Yes, after the final whistle, you really did wonder how everything you'd experienced had really fitted into just 90 minutes. All the interim horror, all the shock and breathless despair in the first half. Than the joy, the huge feeling of release and the happy ending in the second half.

The unique character of this team

Those three setbacks, the first after just 35 seconds - the fastest goal conceded by FC Bayern in their long European history. The quick equaliser and all the other goals - five in total up to the break alone. Going behind an incredible three times by half-time alone against a Real Madrid side who were virtually indomitable, untameable and unpredictable on the night. "The game shows how we are," said an overjoyed board member for sport Max Eberl: "We kept coming back. Making it 1-1, going behind again, making it 2-2, going behind again - and winning in the end. That sums up the character of this team quite well."

No time to catch your breath

It was a night that never let you catch your breath - not down on the pitch, not up in the stands. A night when you didn't dare even make your way to the refreshment stand or the toilet for fear of missing something. After all, it was one blow after another, end-to-end action, so wild that it was almost dizzying at times. There were penalties that weren't awarded, fouls that weren't penalised and scoring opportunities that were missed by a hair's breadth. But above all, the game was a wonderful story full of joy.

FC Bayern picked themselves up and came back three times, scoring three equalisers. It was a lesson in fighting spirit and morale, team spirit and unbridled determination. And, at the very end, delivered a happy ending so beautiful, so wonderful, that it was almost cheesy. "It just feels terrific," confessed a beaming Eberl: "This team and this club are absolutely alive and united. This energy doesn't just come from the pitch, but also from the outside. You can feel it - and that makes us strong."

It was 90 minutes of European footballing history full of red and white devotion, a gift to all those who had never before experienced for themselves the power that football can unleash, and how this FC Bayern side is able to touch so many different hearts simultaneously in a second. "The decisive factor for me was that we didn't stand there after the game asking ourselves: What was that today? Rather, we gave it our all," said Kompany: "You can see what the win means in the images of the lads celebrating with the fans. What remains is this absolute team spirit. We showed a lot of character today and always had the determination to fight back. We played against a great Real Madrid side. That's why it's a great night for the club."

“That was something special”

Despite all the joy, what remains for now is exhaustion - for players and spectators alike. "I think we first have to come to terms with what happened here tonight," said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer. "It was a real Champions League night, the kind you don't often experience. It was very special for the spectators - and for us too."

The plan is for this to continue when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. "The atmosphere today was outstanding, we want to experience that again," revealed the captain: "A bit of drama? I think that's just part of it." Everyone knows what kind of team PSG are, said Pavlović: "They're super active, perhaps alongside us one of the most active teams right now. We're looking forward to it and will prepare well." Vincent Kompany's promise before he too said goodbye for the night: "We have the belief that we can do it."

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