Real Madrid’s Danilo Luiz Da Silva celebrates his goal with Martin Odegaard, right, as Bayern Munich’s David Alaba, left, reacts during the second half of their friendly soccer match Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The first meeting between Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti, who combined to make history in giving Real Madrid its long coveted 10th Champions League title three years ago, ended in favor of the protege.
Zidane’s Madrid defeated its former manager and his Bayern Munich side in a 1-0 win that ended both club’s participation at the 2016 International Champions Cup in front of a nearly sold-out MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands.
Zidane will surely be happier about the way his side grew into the match after an abysmal first half performance than the final result.
Bayern controlled the match from the opening minutes and maintained it for most of the first half as it created a majority of the matches chances. Left-back David Alaba not once, but twice missed narrowly on free-kicks from 25 meters out, his first going just wide and his next rattling the left post of Francisco Casilla’s goal.
USMNT striker Julian Green started the match after his 35 minute hat-trick against Inter Milan four days prior and while he wasn’t able to replicate his best performance for the Bavarian’s, he did show signs of life. Green was active in looking for the goal, running into space behind Real’s back-line a pair of times, though he was called offside on both occasions.
In the 28th minute, he received a pass in stride while keeping onside, but his strike hit Casilla in the right leg as the Spanish goalkeeper made the first save of the match.
“As I said, he’s doing a good position,” Ancelotti said. “He’s scored goals, he had opportunity tonight. He played well, as played well the team in the first half. He had one opportunity.”
Casilla was called into action again five minutes later, forced to make a more picturesque save. Thiago Alcantara received a pass and weaved between a pair of Real defenders into space, firing a strike from 30 meters out that forced Casilla to dive to his left, his outstretched hand deflecting the ball out for a corner.
“Us goalkeepers are there to make saves, like I did today,” Casilla told reporters in the mixed zone after the match. “It’s always good to help the team out with saves, because it gives you confidence and even more so when you don’t get that much game time.”
Real showed signs of life in the second half following a few changes. It grew into the game by the minute after Mateo Kovacic, Marco Asensio and Jose Fernandez came on for James, Varane and Modric.
Morata had a pair of chances in the first 15 minutes but was unable to take advantage, first hitting a volley off his shin and then curling an open strike in the penalty area well wide.
Isco had Real’s best chance in the 59th minute, finding space and curling a strike past an outstretched Sven Ulreich and onto the far post, similar to Thiago’s effort in the first half.
The Spaniard was subbed out a minute later along with Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos in exchange for Martin Odegaard, Danilo and Philipp Lienhart coming on for Dani Carvajal, Isco and Sergio Ramos, respectively.
The substitutions from Madrid and the lack there of from Bayern saw Real grow more dominant, its fresh legs moving past sluggish and tired Bayern players. As more minutes passed, the more space Los Merengues found and the closer it came to opening the scoring.
They finally cracked the German defense in the 80th minute. Danilo beat a pair of Bayern defenders easily as he ran to the edge of the area before unleashing a strike that slipped between Ulreich’s arms and into the back of the net.
“(The second half) was a little more difficult because we became a little bit tired and didn’t play with the intensity that we wanted,” Ancelotti said.
Munich nearly equalized the next minute, earning a free-kick in a dangerous position. But Alaba wasn’t given a chance to prove the third time’s the charm, Thiago taking the free-kick in his place and smashing it high.
Real came closest to scoring the second goal of the match through Mariano Diaz, another Real sub who nearly doubled Madrid’s lead in stoppage time but was unable to capitalize on his three chances. After his ambitious hit from the right wing went wide and a deflected pass rolling into Ulreich’s arms, the Dominican forced the German keeper into his final save on his strike from a tight angle.
Soon after the final whistle blew, Madrid players gathered at midfield to celebrate, something they hope to repeat in a week’s time in Norway as they take on Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup at Lerkendal Stadion in Rosenborg Tuesday night.
Ancelotti’s side has a Super Cup of its own to play next week as they travel to Dortmund on the 14th to face the local Borussia in the DFB-Super Cup.
Considering the match was an exhibition, the Italian wasn’t too upset over the loss. Instead, he was satisfied with the effort.
“I see a good game,” Ancelotti said. “The first half was really good for us, the second half was better Real Madrid. I think in general, I am happy because we start and played a good game, very good control of the game and so because we’re in preseason, we want to still continue to work to do that and (improve) the second half.”
Follow Brian Fonseca on Twitter @briannnnf for updates on both domestic and world football.
