With a standout performance and an assist for Harry Kane, Michael Olise stole the show for Bayern Munich in their 2-1 win away at Real Madrid on Tuesday. Alvaro Carreras is likely to have nightmares about him, whilst Alvaro Arbeloa already considers him one of the best players in the world.
The Real Madrid players have a dream: to overturn Bayern Munich in the second leg; and Alvaro Carreras has a nightmare: facing Michael Olise again.
In Tuesday’s first-leg quarter-final (1-2), the left-back, like all his teammates who crossed paths with the Bavarian winger, went through a real ordeal. For it is in the big games that great players are recognised, and right now – and no doubt for years to come – the French international is clearly among the very best.
Already 31 assists this season…
And it’s not the opposing manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, who would say otherwise. “A bad game for Alvaro Carreras? He was up against one of the best players in the world. It’s not easy to face a player like Olise. (…) Alvaro is a player for the future and the present, but those of us who have played at full-back know this well: Olise can cut inside or go down the flank – he’s difficult to deal with,” summed up the Spanish manager, who was also impressed.
And how could he not be? The former Crystal Palace man did everything to the Madrid side, except find the back of the net. He did, however, help Harry Kane do the job, with a subtle assist for the Englishman in the second half. That was already his… 31st assist of the season, across all competitions, including the two for the national team. The 32nd wasn’t far off either, as his corners – such as the one for Dayot Upamecano – were almost all dangerous.
Kane and the ‘fantastic’ Olise
‘He was fantastic,’ Kane relished speaking to Canal+. ‘He caused the opposition defenders major problems and created numerous chances. He has a huge impact on the way we play. I’d like to congratulate him on the way he trains, develops and performs at such a high level.” At the very highest level, indeed, and on one of the world’s finest stages. He could even have added a touch of drama to the evening late in the game by winning a penalty.
Unfortunately for him, the referee didn’t bat an eyelid—or rather, he chose not to bat an eyelid—after seeing the Frenchman’s sublime chest control in the box and Carreras’s anything but fair challenge. On that occasion, the Madrid player got off lightly. On all the other occasions, he didn’t even have time to catch up with his opponent, who was already well clear each time. Olise was undoubtedly Bayern’s best outfield player, and certainly the best French international in the rencontre .
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