Jude Bellingham had a rough night as Real Madrid crashed out of the Champions League, joining Harry Kane and Eric Dier in exiting the competition.
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Bellingham struggles as Madrid loseKane & Dier score for Bayern MunichBoth teams go crashing out of UCLFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Madrid had a mountain to climb already having lost 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Arsenal, with England star Bellingham failing to impress as they went down 2-1 at home. Instead, Vinicius Junior got the goal, while strikes from Bukayo Saka, who also missed a penalty, and Gabriel Martinelli gave the Gunners the victory.
Meanwhile, Kane fired Bayern to the lead in the second half, taking on a pass from Leon Goretzka, squaring up to Federico Dimarco and eventually blasting into the net, pulling the German side level on aggregate after their 2-1 loss in Munich last week.
Inter pulled level soon after through Lautaro Martinez and then went ahead with a Benjamin Pavard header. While Kane's fellow England and former Tottenham team-mate Dier equalised for the German side, it was not enough as they went crashing out of the competition at the quarter-final stage.
AdvertisementAFPHOW DID THE MEDIA RATE KANE & BELLINGHAM'S PERFORMANCES?
Giving him a 4.5, wrote of Bellingham's performance: "He didn't have much of an input at the start. In his first appearance, he delivered a goal-scoring ball from the left that none of his team-mates believed in. But much more is expected of him in such a demanding match. In the second half, he started getting into more trouble than advisable, which is also nothing new. More heart than head in one of those games where he's supposed to make a difference."
"Kane had the frenzied Bayern fans in the venerable San Siro dreaming of a 'small miracle', slamming the ball through Dimarco's legs into the far corner for the much-celebrated lead," wrote .
The outlet continued: "Dier restored hope with his header and equalized to 2-2. But another goal eluded him, and Inter held on to the tie, sealing not only the end for Bayern—but also for Thomas Muller," with the Germany legend playing his last Champions League match for the club."
said of Dier: "Five minutes before half-time, his sluggishness was clearly noticeable. Thuram almost played him into knots, and shortly thereafter, he received a yellow card 30 meters from the opposing goal… After an hour, he saved Bayern from conceding another goal with a stunning sliding tackle. He didn't always look solid defensively, but his goal gave Bayern renewed hope."
The same outlet said of Kane: "He made a rather sluggish impression in the first half hour and didn't seem particularly quick to act. He only woke up a bit towards the end of the first 45 minutes…and in the 52nd minute, he sent the visitors' section of the San Siro into a frenzy. He received a pass on the inside right flank in the penalty area, calmly laid the ball on his right foot, forcing his opponent Dimarco to lunge, and coolly shot through Dimarco's legs into the far corner. Deliberate, composed, world-class. However, in the tighter phase, he wasn't as present as one would hope from a top star in a top game."
WHAT ARE THE FANS SAYING ON SOCIAL?
Arsenal fans enjoyed seeing Bellingham struggle while Declan Rice thrived once again against Madrid, with @wowzers69696 writing on X: "Declan Rice and Bellingham are on the same pitch and Declan Rice is levels above. This guy is f*cking ridiculous."
"Rice has put Bellingham to shame over these two legs," @UtdEIIis said.
Of course, some spectators couldn't help but laugh at the fact that two former Tottenham players were involved in their European demise.
@NimaTavRood wrote: "Dier with a great header. Kane, Dier, Crouch, Bale etc what is it with Spurs players scoring at the San Siro??"
@MenInBlazers asked: "Harry Kane and Eric Dier on the scoresheet for the same team in the Champions League. What in the Spurs 2019 is going on?!"
@AldoLFC chimed in with: "Harry Kane & Eric Dier both scoring for Bayern as they are knocked out of Europe is quite funny. You can take the players out of Spurs but ………."
@bjon_bbttr added: "So Kane really gonna not win anything when with Bayern again?"
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
The European dream is over for Bayern and Madrid but they are both aiming for domestic glory. Bayern have a six-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga and will be confident of maintaining that when they face Heidenheim this weekend, while Madrid take on Athletic Club on Sunday.