Dream goal against Real Madrid – fans vote for Michael Olise

Dream goal against Real Madrid – fans vote for Michael Olise

Deep into stoppage time at the Allianz Arena and following their 2–1 first-leg victory at the Bernabéu, FC Bayern had all but knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League quarter-finals: Luis Díaz had just scored the equaliser to make it 3–3. The Munich side won the ball once more; Harry Kane drove forward and passed to Michael Olise – and, exhausted and drained, signalled to him to please run down the clock. And Olise? Didn’t even give it a thought.

One last sprint, a magical shot, and the ball was in the back of the net: 4–3. Olise slid on his knees towards the corner flag – the stadium was rocking, the Bayern fans couldn’t believe it. Could there be a better way to round off a second win in as many games against the mighty Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals?

“I love him as a player. If he carries on like this, he’ll always be in the running for the Ballon d’Or,” said legend Luis Figo, full of admiration. It almost seemed as though Olise had finally made his mark on the big stage with his exceptional performances in both legs against Los Blancos. Yet the 24-year-old regularly produces magic in the Champions League, the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup. In his maiden season, he was voted Bundesliga “Rookie of the Season” after racking up 30 goal contributions in 34 appearances. This season, too, he's already been directly involved in 48 goals across all competitions – and that in just 43 games. As flamboyant as the Frenchman is on the pitch, Olise is just as introverted off it. “I believe that as a footballer, you have to prove yourself on the pitch first and foremost. That’s where I want to show what I can do and who I am,” he told members' magazine '51'. Just as he did with the winning goal in the 4-3 victory against Real.