Olise Steals the Spotlight in the Bernabeu

Following the second goal by Bayern Munich, Real Madrid's left-back, Alvaro Carreras, was seen with his arms outstretched, pleading for support from his teammates before the restart. He was clearly struggling to cope with Michael Olise on his own. Vinicius Junior was not providing sufficient defensive cover, and Aurelien Tchouameni had his hands full in midfield, leaving Carreras exposed against one of the world's top footballers as Bayern Munich took control in the Bernabeu. Bayern's experienced playmaker, Joshua Kimmich, was aware of the situation and consistently fed Olise, making 17 passes to the winger throughout the game. Olise continued to push forward, and Jamie Carragher described his performance as one of the best of the season. 'To deliver such a performance in the Bernabeu,' Carragher exclaimed on CBS, 'is truly remarkable.' Although Manuel Neuer received the man of the match award, thanks to his nine saves, which reflected the chances Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe had, it was Olise who outshone the superstars. The 24-year-old London-born former Crystal Palace winger has become a superstar in his own right. His assist for Harry Kane's winning goal that night was his sixth in the Champions League this season, the most of any player in the competition so far. Michael Olise's former Crystal Palace manager, Oliver Glasner, commented on his rise: 'I'm not surprised. From the first day he stepped onto the pitch, you could see his potential. He was injured when I arrived, but when he was fit, he had a huge impact on our game, and he was only 22 at the time.' Glasner watched the game against Real Madrid and said, 'It was a great game to watch, and he was outstanding. His end to the season is incredible, but this isn't his ceiling – he can still do better.' Olise will likely finish the season with the most successful dribbles as well. After his exceptional performance in the previous round against Atalanta, former Germany international Christoph Kramer called him the best Bundesliga signing of the past decade. Bayern took charge in the Bernabeu, and as the game unfolded in Madrid, it became clear that the questions surrounding whether Madrid's forwards could create the moments that would make a difference against a slick Bayern side were overshadowed by the fact that Bayern currently has the most potent attack in the world. Kane and Luis Diaz scored the goals, with Gnabry and Olise providing the assists. The three players involved in the most goals in major European leagues this season, excluding penalties, all play for Bayern, with Olise leading the way. He looked like the most effective player on the pitch in the Bernabeu, showcasing his swagger and repertoire of no-look passes. During his time in the Premier League, Olise became known for his brief but often humorous interviews. If there's a player who prefers to let his actions speak louder than words, it's him. Because when he's on the pitch, he has no trouble expressing himself. Arda Guler, the Madrid midfielder, became frustrated, but it wasn't just for show – Olise was constantly creating space for himself and working back defensively. Vincent Kompany, his coach, describes him as a player who can do it all. 'What sets him apart is his mentality. He's a perfectionist, extremely detail-oriented, and gets irritated if every detail isn't perfect. I often see him in Kevin De Bruyne – his precision in shooting, quality in dribbling, and ability to use both feet.' Given the news of Mohamed Salah's impending departure, there are links to Liverpool, but that opportunity has passed. Bayern will not sell, and Uli Hoeness, Bayern's long-time patriarch, emphasizes that no amount of money could make up for the loss, as the team would be worse off as a result. They are in the midst of a glorious season, and Olise has turned into a player who can win them a Champions League. This particular Champions League? It's very possible. Although the tie against the 15-time European champions is not yet won, and Mbappe and Vinicius will be a danger on the counter-attack in Munich, Bayern's more coherent game should win out over the course of three hours of football. Individual talent can win games, but the difference in the Bernabeu was that Bayern had that individual talent combined with organization, discipline, and determination – all embodied by Olise in a performance to remember. Just ask Alvaro Carreras.