The tunnel spat the players back onto the pitch, faces set like granite, sweat already beading under the stadium lights.
If the first half had been a high-speed chess match, the second half promised to be a bare-knuckle brawl.
The first half was testing the waters.
Now, both were ready to dig in. The last thing Bayern Munich wanted was to fail in their quest to get revenge against their hated rivals in their own home.
Real Madrid? They simply refused to lose because of pride, pride that burned hotter than a volcano.
Kompany had made no changes. Xavi Alonso had, subtle ones. Arda Guler had been told to drift higher, closer to Mbappe, to press Kimmich and cut off Bayern's supply lines.
Valverde was now shadowing Musiala like a man possessed.
FWEEE!
The whistle blew, and the fight began again.
Real Madrid kicked off, but roaring out into the half with maddening intensity, Bayern won the ball back in mere seconds and immediately went on the attack, adrenaline pushing them for the breakthrough.
BZZZ!
Musiala was like a man possessed as soon as he received the ball, twinkle toes dazzling in a dance, the shadow dance of the Lord of Shadows.
He nutmegged Valverde, and elasticoed his way past Bellingham!
BOOM!
The stadium erupted, fans jumping to their feet, energy at a crazy level as Musiala exchanged a one two pass with Harry Kane before…
Bam!
He smashed the ball towards goal only for Courtois to shut all the noise, pulling off a stunning save, and causing a corner.
Bayern fans groaned in frustration.
Bayern played their corner, but in a blink, it turned into a Madrid lightning strike.
Courtois claimed the cross, immediately hurling the ball to Bellingham. One touch to Valverde, one touch to Mbappe.
And then the stadium erupted into chaos.
WHOOSH!
Mbappe was gone.
He turned into a blur, burning grass down the left flank.
Davies chased, but the Frenchman's second gear was too much, aided by the fact that he had a head start. Mbappe barged into the box; a step over, a body feint, and as Neuer leaned… he smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
The Allianz fell silent except for the piercing roar from the Madrid away section.
Bayern 0-1 Madrid.
(Mbappe 48')
Mbappe didn't celebrate with arrogance. He just stood, arms out, expression unreadable… like a king reminding everyone why he ruled.
Madrid's lead didn't last though.
After that goal, something more than just zeal surged through the veins of the Bayern players. Madrid barely had time to breath before Bayern struck back like a hammer.
In the 54th minute, Bayern hit back.
Musiala ghosted into space between Huijsen and Rudiger, receiving a pass from Goretzka. He flicked the ball to Kane, who laid it off to Diaz.
The Colombian winger skipped past Trent, hit the byline, and fizzed in a low cross into the box.
Kane arrived like a freight train.
Thud… thud… thud…
Then…
BAM!
One touch. One finish. No chance for Courtois.
(Kane 54')
Kane wheeled away, roaring to the South Stand. The Allianz woke again, louder, meaner…
For the next ten minutes after Kane's goal, the match turned into a warzone as both European heavyweight clubs went at each other's throat.
Vinicius hit the post after cutting inside Laimer. Olise forced Courtois into a fingertip save with a dipping shot from 25 yards.
Mbappe danced past Tah but dragged his shot wide.
Musiala ripped through midfield, only to see his shot blocked by Huijsen's desperate lunge.
It was football at its most violent beauty… tackles crunching, chants thundering, hearts in throats.
In the 69th minute, Xavi Alonso finally rolled the dice, making the first Real Madrid change as he brought on Endrick for Rodrygo.
The 20 year old Brazilian phenom got a hero's welcome from the away section. His job? Stretch Bayern's backline even more, give Mbappe the space to kill.
For a time, the game turned even more chaotic.
And then, in the 73rd minute, finally, the deadlock was broken…
A simple ball over the top from Valverde looked harmless, until Mbappe decided it wasn't.
The Frenchman ghosted between Tah and Upamecano, controlling the ball with one perfect touch. Neuer rushed out, spreading big. But Mbappe dinked it over him; delicate as silk, ruthless as a blade.
Bayern 1-2 Madrid.
(Mbappe 73')
KABOOM!
The Allianz Arena turned upside down as Madrid fans made their voices heard.
Kylian Mbappe? The Frenchman didn't stop running. Straight to the corner flag, pounding his chest. Madrid fans behind the goal were in a frenzy, their voices slicing through the Munich night.
In the 79th minute, Vincent Kompany made his counterstrike, bringing on Gnabry and Coman for Olise and Diaz.
Fresh legs, direct pace.
Immediately, Bayern began to swarm. Coman spun past Mendy. Cross.
Kane's header thundered against the bar. The rebound fell to Musiala, but Courtois, impossibly, was already there, smothering it.
And then, in the 85th minute, Bayern's persistence paid off.
Laimer overlapped down the right, swinging in a cross. Kane ducked under it, letting it run to Musiala. The 24 year old German didn't think twice; he curled it first-time into the far corner.
Bayern 2-2 Madrid.
(Musiala 85')
KABOOM!
The Allianz Arena melted, literally.
Neuer sprinted out from his goal to join the celebrations. On the touchline, Kompany pumped both fists in celebration.
The Allianz was bouncing.
And yet, Madrid weren't done.
In the 2nd minute of additional time, Madrid went on one last attack, Mbappe drifting to the left, pulling defenders with him.
A sudden switch of play found Endrick in space on the right. The Brazilian darted inside, slipped past Davies, and hit a shot low and hard.
Neuer saved, but the rebound spilled.
And there was Vinicius, grinning like a mad man as he rolled it into the empty net.
Bayern 2-3 Madrid.
(Vinicius 90+2')
"…"
This time, there was no sound. The stadium was eerily silent.
Allianz Arena was as silent as a church.
The whistle blew moments later. Madrid's bench flooded the pitch. Alonso hugged his players, his calm demeanor finally breaking into a satisfied grin.
[FULL-TIME: Bayern Munich 2-3 Real Madrid]
[Man of the Match: Kylian Mbappe (2 goals, terrorized Bayern's backline)]
…
In the press room afterward, Kompany praised Bayern's fight but admitted, "When you face players like Mbappe, even one mistake feels like a death sentence".
Xavi Alonso was succinct. "This is the standard we want. Every match. Every stadium. We're Real Madrid".