Madrid in driver’s seat in UEFA CL semi
Real Madrid substitute Marco Asensio scored a secondhalf winner yesterday to end Bayern Munich’s unbeaten record at home this season and give his side a 2-1 win in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Joshua Kimmich had put the home side in front, but Marcelo equalised before the interval against the run of play. Asensio then came on after the break, and Lukas Vazquez set up the 22-year-old to claim a second away goal for Madrid 12 minutes into the second half.
The result puts the two-time defending champions in a favourable position before the second leg in Madrid on Tuesday, though Zinedine Zidane’s side will be wary after conceding three goals at home to Juventus in the previous round.
MISSED OPPRTUNITIES
Bayern had to substitute the injured Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng in the first half, but the side had plenty of chances to score more goals with Franck Ribery, Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski all missing good opportunities.
Cristiano Ronaldo was held scoreless for the first time in the competition this season. The Portuguese star had an effort ruled out in the second half for using his arm to control the ball.
Bayern, which is chasing a treble in Jupp Heynckes’ last season in charge, was hoping to make up for last year’s quarterfinal exit to Madrid, and for the Spanish side’s 5-0 aggregate win at the same stage in 2014.
Roy Makaay scored the fastest Champions League goal after 10 seconds for Bayern against Madrid in 2007, and Mueller would have rivalled it had he been able to make more of a chance created by Lewandowski.