As the second Bayern Munich goal found its way into the net, Real Madrid's left-back Alvaro Carreras was visibly frustrated, imploring his teammates to provide support. He was struggling to cope with the exceptional skills of Michael Olise on his own. With Vinicius Junior failing to track back and Aurelien Tchouameni preoccupied in midfield, Carreras was left exposed against one of the world's finest footballers as Bayern Munich took control in the Bernabeu.
Experienced playmaker Joshua Kimmich was well aware of the situation and continually fed Olise, playing a total of 17 passes to the winger. Olise, in turn, relentlessly attacked the Madrid defense, earning praise from Jamie Carragher, who described it as one of the performances of the season.
'To deliver such a performance in the Bernabeu,' Carragher exclaimed, 'is truly remarkable.' Although Manuel Neuer claimed the man of the match award, thanks to his nine saves, which reflected the numerous chances created by Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe, 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 marked his sixth in the Champions League this season, surpassing any other player in the competition. 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, it was clear he had something special.
He was injured when I arrived but made a huge impact when he was fit, and he was only 22 at the time.' Glasner watched the game against Real Madrid and was impressed by Olise's outstanding performance. 'His end to the season is incredible, but this isn't his ceiling – he can still improve.' Olise is likely to finish with the most successful dribbles as well. After his exceptional performance in the previous round against Atalanta, former Germany international Christoph Kramer hailed him as the best Bundesliga signing of the past decade.
Bayern Munich took charge in the Bernabeu, and as the game unfolded in Madrid, it became clear that they possess the most potent attack in the world. Kane and Luis Diaz scored the goals, while Serge Gnabry and Olise provided 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, showcasing his signature swagger and repertoire of no-look passes. During his time in the Premier League, Olise was known for his brief interviews, but on the pitch, he has no trouble expressing himself. Arda Guler, the Madrid midfielder, grew frustrated, but Olise's antics were not just for show – he consistently created space for himself and worked defensively as well.
Vincent Kompany, his coach, praises Olise as a player who can do it all. 'What sets him apart is his mentality – he's a perfectionist who 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.' With rumors linking him to Liverpool due to Mohamed Salah's impending departure, Olise would be a dream replacement.
However, Bayern will not sell, as Uli Hoeness, the club's long-time patriarch, points out that no amount of money could make up for the loss, as the team would be worse off as a result. Olise has turned into a player who can win Bayern the Champions League, and this particular Champions League is very much within their grasp.
While the tie against the 15-time European champions is not yet won, and Mbappe and Vinicius will pose a threat on the counter-attack in Munich, Bayern's more coherent game should ultimately prevail over the three hours of football. Individual talent can win games, but the difference in the Bernabeu was that Bayern had that individual talent coupled with organization, discipline, and determination – all of which were embodied by Olise in a performance to remember.