ROBBED AGAIN....

Once again the hopes and dreams of all Madrid fans world wide were dashed over the weekend in what can only be described as a cruel ending for JM and his Real Madrid team.

The Champions League is the one trophy which still eludes JM to this point of his career, and hopes were certainly high this year would spell the end of the draught.

Bayern Munich was once again the opponent - a classic foe who had already managed to spoil the party for Madrid once before.
With a stalement 1st leg at home in Madrid, Real played masterfully in Munich. Neither side giving an inch - neither willing to make the crucial error. Then, who else but perhaps the best player in the world to finally break the dead lock. Ronaldo scoring what seemed to be a massive game breaker midway through the 1st half. A classic counter attack and perfect finish.

From there it seemed Real would play out the game as they did at home in the 1st leg. It seemed once again improbable that Bayern would find the 2 goals they would need to progress. With Madrid holding out wave after wave of Bayern attack. Nothing was getting through today.

Then, once again, the Fifa Gods have their say. From a Bayern corner kick, what seemed a comfortable clearance by Madrid, it was called back for a hand ball in the box. Cruel.
It goes down as perhaps the 22nd, or maybe 45th penalty Real Madrid have conceded in this way this season. Cruel.

Who steps up to take the penalty? An old nemesis by the name of Robben.
Despite Casillas appearing to pick the correct side the ball still finds a place in the side of the goal to level the game. Cruel.

Early in the 2nd half again a Bayern attack appears to come to nothing when a foul is called on Madrid. Almost touching the goal line of the far side of the field - an impossible angle. Who steps up to take the free kick. Robben.

He shoots directly at Casillas, who perhaps should have gobbled it up with ease. Instead he reacts by punching the ball high into his own net. Bayern take the lead. Cruel.

Robben adds a 3rd and final goal on the night in a man of the match performance

From there Real must now push forward - time against them. Big season recruit Gareth Bale had a brilliant chance to level the game but pushed his effort from outside of the box uncharacteristally wide of the goal. Big miss. Cruel.

With Madrid's ultra attack style in the final 20 mins, Bayern were able to find space and added to the misery with a further 2 goals - including a hat trick to Robben. Cruel.
Game over. 

Casillas walks away from another heartbreaking defeat