Bayern Munich Take Lesson from Real Madrid's Decima Winners in Juventus Thriller

When Real Madrid reached extra time in the 2014 UEFA Champions League final, they had a look about them that they were going to win. Bayern Munich gave off a similar vibe on Wednesday night as they headed to extra time against Juventus in their Champions League round-of-16 clash.

Like the Spanish giants before them, Bayern had momentum on their side after grabbing a late equalizer. Like Carlo Ancelotti's side, they'd worn out their opponents over 90 minutes and had a lineup on the pitch that was much more suited to winning in extra time.

In the 2014 final, Real scored in the 110th minute and got two more goals before the final whistle. On Wednesday, Bayern hit the target on 108 minutes, then put the result to rest shortly thereafter.

This Bayern side and manager Pep Guardiola in particular are intimately aware of what made Ancelotti's Real so good. It was the same Real side that had hammered them 5-0 on aggregate in that season's semifinals. After a 4-0 drubbing at home, Guardiola took responsibility for "the biggest f--k-up of [his] life as a coach," per Marti Perarnau in the book Pep Confidential: The Inside Story of Pep Guardiola's First Season at Bayern Munich (via MailOnline).

Yet from that failure, a lesson was learned. It took time, but this season we've seen a different Bayern from that Guardiola created in his first year as head coach in 2013-14. It's less tiki-taka and more pragmatic.

Yes, there is a significant amount of skill required to play in his system, but the same goes for Ancelotti's model. The difference from Bayern's perspective is that, unlike in 2014, the aim isn't to pass the ball into the net. We've seen a much faster game from. And even to those who may not have noticed prior, the sheer athletic superiority of Bayern Munich was a key difference in Wednesday's tie.

When Juve were ahead, they could sit back and defend. So just as Real did in 2014, Bayern resorted to crossing the ball to get the goals needed to restore parity. A key turning point was the introduction of Kingsley Coman for Xabi Alonso. Even if typically over just five or 10 yards, the Frenchman's quickness was instrumental. As was that of compatriot Franck Ribery and fellow winger Douglas Costa.

And although Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski and Arturo Vidal are not exactly speed demons, their physical strength and aggression—consider the Chilean's tackle ahead of Muller's equalizer—were hugely important in different areas of the pitch. It wasn't a game for an old man such as Alonso.

In extra time, Bayern's fitness and athleticism were their trump cards. Juve were weary, yet the Bavarians remained fresh; they pressed on and on and eventually took the lead. And just over a minute later, Coman raced forward on the counterattack to net the killer fourth.

If Bayern are to win the Champions League, they'll have to beat better teams than Juve. And based on how the round of 16 went, Guardiola and company don't look like they will.

The Italians were missing their best striker, Paulo Dybala, their best defender, Giorgio Chiellini, and a key midfielder in Claudio Marchisio, yet they were unlucky to have had a third goal wrongly disallowed in the first half. That would have required Bayern to net four by the end of regular time rather than two. And truth be told, there are better clubs than even a full-strength Juve left in the competition.

At the same time, all the remaining contestants will want to avoid Bayern. It looked like Guardiola's men were gone after 45 minutes, and even for a while in the second half. They're a volatile side that experiences low lows but also incredible highs. And we saw in the final 40 minutes of play on Wednesday just what they can do when they're against the ropes.

Bayern don't look like the best team left in the competition, but neither did Chelsea in 2012, and they beat the Bavarians in that year's final. The German champions have already taken a bit of the essence of the Real team that beat them in 2014; if they can channel the fighting spirit of the Chelsea side from four years ago, there is nothing that can stop them.

@Mr_Bundesliga