Real Madrid punish profligate Bayern
It looks like Cristiano Ronaldo is heading for a meeting with Mo Salah, with Real Madrid carrying a lead, and two away goals, into the second leg of their Champions League football semifinal against Bayern Munich in Spain next week.
Ronaldo failed to score in a Champions League game for the first time this season but holders Real Madrid came from a goal down to snatch a precious 2-1 victory at wasteful Bayern Munich and carry a considerable advantage into their semifinal second leg in Spain.
Real, eyeing a third straight title, needed a 44th-minute equaliser by Marcelo against the run of play to cancel out Joshua Kimmich’s opener after Bayern, chasing three trophies this season, had missed a hatful of chances. A quick break allowed Real substitute Marco Asensio to beat Sven Ulreich with a fine effort and grab the winner in the 57th minute.
The result was identical to last year’s quarter-final first leg between the teams before Real won the return game as well on the way to the first successful Champions League title defence.
“We are satisfied with the result but this does not count for much,” Real coach Zinedine Zidane said. “You can never feel absolutely safe in football.
Liverpool, inspired by Salah, crushed AS Roma 5-2 in the other semifinal first leg on Wednesday (NZT).
Bayern, who had lost only one of their past 22 home games in the competition, had only themselves to blame and were punished for their profligacy.
The hosts’ game plan seemed to go out the window after eight minutes when speedy winger Arjen Robben was forced off with an ankle injury.
They were undeterred by Real’s early tight pressing game, however, taking the lead when Kimmich slotted home after a superb through ball from former Real player James Rodriguez.
But Real struck against the run of play with a low drive from Marcelo a minute before the break. The Spanish side, who have had a disappointing domestic campaign, then caught the Germans napping after a defensive blunder as Asensio raced clear to score their second goal.
“It was a curious game,” Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said. “We gifted Madrid two goals through our mistakes. We had really good chances and we did not use them. One should not be surprised that we lost. When you have that many chances and you don’t score, then you cannot win.” — Reuters