ASENSIO THE REAL DEAL IN SPANISH JOY
First Leg
MARCO ASENSIO came off the bench to give Real Madrid a crucial first-leg advantage in Munich.
On a night when Cristiano Ronaldo was unusually subdued, Asensio’s 11th goal of the campaign, 12 minutes into the second period, means the back-to-back champions are still on course for a hat-trick of successive titles.
The German champions settled quicker than the reigning European kings and took the lead after 28 minutes.
With Marcelo (right) out of position, Bayern broke quickly, exploiting the space left by the Brazilian defender, with on-loan Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez freeing Kimmich.
The German youngster raced into the penalty area and fired home, beating Keylor Navas as the Costa Rican keeper gambled on a cross that never came.
Bayern, with Rodriguez and Thiago pulling the strings, began to dominate, but couldn’t add to their lead.
Mats Hummels headed over from eight yards, before Franck Ribery’s heavy touch when clean through saw a golden chance go begging.
On the stroke of halftime, that profligacy was punished.
A long diagonal ball to the right corner of the box was headed aimlessly across by Dani Carvajal, but bounced up 20 yards from goal and was drilled into the bottom corner by Marcelo.
Little more than 10 minutes into the second period, the visitors claimed a scarcely deserved lead.
An awful mistake by Rafinha – chosen to deputise at left-back for the injured David Alaba, instead of the nominal deputy Juan Bernat – handed a two-vs-one to Lucas Vazquez and Asensio, and the latter, on as a half-time substitute, coolly slotted past Sven Ulreich.
Navas made amends for his earlier error with a pair of smart saves, both times denying Ribery before Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski somehow contrived to miss with the goal gaping.
Ronaldo, whose only contribution of note had been an effort which went out for a throw-in, saw an outstanding leftfoot finish ruled out for a handball in the build-up.
Bayern pushed, with Ribery their main threat, but a side that has been allowed to age together looked short of energy and ideas as the game ebbed away from them.
Zinedine Zidane’s Los Blancos, with that innate belief that this is their competition, have one foot in yet another final in Kiev next month.