Champions League: Bayern Munich wins in Madrid; Arsenal does just enough in Lisbon.

Great players are made for big matches, and Tuesday night’s game contained enough drama to tip the evening into the realm of the irrational—much like the previous round against Manchester City (3-0). As is often the case, in fact, in Madrid.

This time, however, football adhered to a certain logic, granting a distinct advantage to Bayern—who arrived to forcefully and definitively stake their claim for a seventh crown—yet not enough to condemn Real, with their 15 trophies, to a second consecutive season without a major title.

“We are still alive. I believe we demonstrated tonight that we can really hurt them—that we can score against them. If there is one team capable of going to Munich and winning, it is Real Madrid. (…) Anyone who doesn’t believe that can stay right here,” reacted Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa.

There will indeed be a second leg next Wednesday, and Real owes this largely to their French superstar and his 39th goal of the season. Perhaps the most important one yet.

“This goal gives us hope. I saw a Mbappé who was fully engaged in everything he did—capable of unbalancing the opposition and posing a constant threat to Bayern’s defense—displaying all the qualities that make him the best player in the world. This is the Mbappé we all want to see,” affirmed Arbeloa.