Magnificent Marcelo inspires Real Madrid to victory
Is he a left-back? Is he a box-to-box midfielder? No, he's simply Marcelo.
Technically he is a left-back because that's how he's listed on the team sheet, but if there's anything to take away from the Brazilian's performance in Real Madrid's frenetic 4-2 extra-time victory over Bayern Munich, it is that this is a player who refuses to - and is mercifully incapable of - playing within the conventional confines of his position.
The history books will show that Cristiano Ronaldo decided this game with a hat-trick (German and Catalan editions may choose to focus on refereeing errors) but it was Marcelo's flair, boundless energy and defensive diligence that helped his side weather a Bavarian storm at the Bernabeu.
The former Fluminense man made his first vital intervention as early as the 9th minute, putting his body on the line to block a goal-bound Thiago Alcantara effort.
Admittedly, the 28-year-old also gave Arjen Robben far too much space to receive cross-field passes and launch dangerous balls into the box.
But the vice-captain was left with far too much to do against the Flying Dutchman and roving right-back Philippe Lahm in the first half, as Real found themselves stretched and over-run by Carlo Ancelotti's charges.
However, in true Marcelo style, he refused to let defensive difficulties curtail his forward forays.
The 28-year-old took up the role of chief counterattacking outlet, and also created a boatload of quality chances when his side had possession of the ball.
Indeed his attacking verve was crucial to relieving his embattled defensive colleagues, and enabled Real to somehow stumble into the dressing room at halftime without conceding.
The second half began as did the first - with the vice-captain saving his team's bacon, this time heading Robben's chipped shot off the line with Keylor Navas well beaten.
So determined was the Brazil international to thwart Bayern's goalscoring attempts that, in hindsight, it might not have been the worst idea to hand him the goalkeeping gloves for Robert Lewandowski's penalty kick.
The 64th minute introduction of Marco Asensio helped Los Blancos defend their left channel with more assuredness, and Marcelo promptly set about lifting his performance to ludicrous heights.
At times, it seemed like he was playing as a defender, left winger and No.10 at the same time.
There were fizzing low balls, whipped-in crosses, slipped-in through passes, a plethora of dribbles and even a solid shot on target.
However, the No.12 offered far more than just attacking bravado, as he set an example with his work rate and indefatigable running.
His tireless approach was embodied by one laborious, lung-bursting run in the 93rd minute to keep the ball in play near the halfway line, fists pumping into his chest like a marathoner at the final stretch.
However, the club veteran saved his most memorable play of the game, and arguably his career, for extra-time.
Taking possession in his own half, the left-back looped the ball forward to Toni Kroos, accepted the return pass to feet and proceeded to maraud right through the heart of the Bayern defence, before unselfishly laying the ball off to Ronaldo to complete his hat-trick.
It was a move that was strikingly similar to his extra-time goal against Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final, in that he spotted a tiring opponent and decided to catch them off-guard with a sudden burst of energy and directness.
This time however, the Rio de Janeiro-born man chose to pass up an easy one-on-one goalscoring opportunity to instead pick out Ronaldo, whose goal will unfortunately be tarnished by the fact that he was in an offside position.
It feels like a great shame that Marcelo didn't score himself as he would've earned a thoroughly deserved spot on the scoresheet, with a goal that would have surely gone down as one of the greatest in the history of the Champions League knockout stages.
But perhaps it's only appropriate that he looked for a teammate instead, as it exemplified how his flair, energy and audacity were dedicated towards the collective cause rather than the pursuit of personal plaudits.
The Brazilian finished his 400th game for Real with 68 passes (second only to Toni Kroos), creating as many chances (8) as Robben, Franck Ribery, Alcantara, Arturo Vidal and Xabi Alonso combined and completing more dribbles than anybody else on the pitch.
This was truly a performance for the ages from Marcelo, and one that Madridistas will be well advised to look back to if their team go on to become the first side to successfully defend their Champions League crown.
A crowd of 30,000 watched Billie Jean King take on Bobby Riggs in Houston in 1973
RTRPIX
