Olise Steals the Spotlight at the Bernabeu

As the second goal went in for Bayern Munich, Real Madrid's left-back, Alvaro Carreras, was visibly frustrated, pleading with his teammates to provide support. He was struggling to contain Michael Olise, who was proving to be a formidable opponent. With Vinicius Junior failing to track back and Aurelien Tchouameni preoccupied in midfield, Carreras found himself isolated against one of the world's top footballers as Bayern Munich took control in the Bernabeu. Experienced playmaker Joshua Kimmich capitalized on this, feeding Olise with 17 passes throughout the game, and Olise continued to push forward against the Madrid defense. According to Jamie Carragher, it was one of the standout performances of the season. 'To achieve that in the Bernabeu,' he exclaimed in a CBS interview. Although Manuel Neuer received the man of the match award thanks to his nine saves, which reflected the numerous chances created by Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe, Olise was the one who outshone the stars. The 24-year-old former Crystal Palace winger has become a superstar in his own right, with his assist for Harry Kane's winning goal marking his sixth in the Champions League this season - more than any other player. His former manager, Oliver Glasner, commented on his rise: 'I'm not surprised. From the first day he stepped onto the pitch, you could see it. 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.' Olise is likely to 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 praised him as the best Bundesliga signing of the past decade. Bayern Munich took charge in the Bernabeu, with Olise's performance being a key factor. While questions surrounding the match focused on whether Madrid's forwards could make a difference against a slick Bayern side, it's clear that Bayern currently has the most potent attack. With Olise leading the way, the team's attack is looking formidable. Olise's game is characterized by a swagger, and he showcased this on the biggest stage with his repertoire of no-look passes and ability to roll the ball under his foot. During his time in the Premier League, Olise was known for his humorous but monosyllabic interviews, preferring to let his actions on the pitch speak for themselves. As Arda Guler, the Madrid midfielder, grew frustrated, Olise continued to create space for himself while working defensively. His coach, Vincent Kompany, praises Olise as a player who can do it all, citing his mentality as a perfectionist who gets irritated if every detail is not perfect. With his precision in shooting, quality in dribbling, and ability to use both feet, Olise is a standout player. It's no wonder there are links to Liverpool, given the news of Mohamed Salah's impending departure, but Bayern has made it clear they will not sell. According to Uli Hoeness, Bayern's long-time patriarch, there is no sum of money that could make up for the loss, as the team would be worse off as a result. With Olise turning into a player who can win them a Champions League, the team is in the glory game. While the tie against the 15-time European champions is not yet won, and Mbappe and Vinicius will still pose a threat on the counter-attack in Munich, Bayern's more coherent game should give them the edge over 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 was embodied by Olise in a performance to remember.