"Real Madrid have lodged a complaint with UEFA after star players had their boots stolen ahead of their Champions League semifinal clash with Bayern Munich," the Mail reports.
"Cristiano Ronaldo had three pairs nicked, while Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil, who scored Madrid's goal in the 2-1 defeat, were also victims of the Allianz Arena thief. Some shirts were also taken from Real's dressing room before the game."
At this point, there are no suspects in the burglary, which threatened to ruin the most glamorous of the UEFA Champions League semifinal matchups. Ronaldo, Benzema and Ozil are three of the game's premier artists, and stealing their shoes is like taking a brush from a painter.
However, each started and played a key role in the game. Benzema nearly scored after 10 minutes, but Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer tipped his shot over the crossbar.
Ozil scored Madrid's only goal of the game in the 53rd minute, and the other two victims had a role to play in the move. Ronaldo's shot was saved by Neuer, but Benzema collected the rebound and played it back to the Portuguese star. Ronaldo then created space with a tricky drag-back and fed Ozil, who tapped it home.
Bayern won the first leg of the Champions League semifinal 2-1, and the two teams will face off next week in Spain.
The German club may want to travel to the Spanish with its own security detail. Or maybe manager Jose Mourinho take a man off of the back post and stick him in the locker room.
If Real Madrid downs Bayern next week it will advance to the final, which takes place at … the Allianz Arena. Hopefully there will be no more stories about the Grinch who stole the Champions League final.
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