Chapter 174: Mallorca, the Strong Team
When the referee blew the final whistle, the Bayern Munich fans inside the Olympiastadion could hardly believe their eyes. Even the commentators were left stunned.
Everyone had sensed that a record was about to be broken as the match neared its end, yet when it actually happened, the impact was still overwhelming.
Bayern's three-year unbeaten home record in the Champions League—a symbol of their near-invincibility in Europe—had been shattered. A glorious 25-match unbeaten streak had come to an abrupt end.
And the team that ended it wasn't Manchester United, Barcelona, or Real Madrid. It wasn't any of the European giants Bayern had faced at home over the years. It was Mallorca—a club making its first-ever appearance in the Champions League this season!
A small club from a remote island had taken down the undisputed kings of German football!
Over the past three seasons, Bayern had reached the Champions League final once, suffering one of the most shocking comebacks in tournament history. They had made it to the semifinals another time, eliminating Real Madrid in the group stage with back-to-back 4-0 wins, only to be knocked out by the same opponent later. And they had also lifted the Champions League trophy once. This level of success had only been matched by Juventus from 1995-98 and Real Madrid from 1998-2000. Though Bayern's form this season had slightly dipped, their unbeaten home record in Europe had remained intact—until tonight.
And the team that finally broke it was Mallorca.
Bayern's fans stared in disbelief at Mallorca's players celebrating on the pitch. For them, this match was a nightmare. But for Mallorca, it was the realization of a dream.
"The younger generation is truly impressive."
Ottmar Hitzfeld watched José embrace his players in celebration. He shook his head. Though Bayern's struggles in the second half were partly due to his own tactical misjudgment, José's ability to exploit those weaknesses and adjust his own strategy accordingly was a testament to his coaching brilliance.
"If he can build a strong enough squad in the coming years... Mallorca might just shake up all of Europe!"