Bayern Munich take control of UEFA Champions Leaue tie with impressive victory at Real Madrid
Bayern Munich claimed a crucial 2-1 victory against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg, with goals from Luis Díaz and Harry Kane giving the defending Bundesliga champions a deserved advantage in the tie.
Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Díaz 41' (assist: Gnabry), 0-2 Kane 46' (assist: Olise), 1-2 Mbappé 74' (assist: Alexander-Arnold)
The Champions League quarter-final clash between Real and Bayern was billed as a meeting of European heavyweights, and it certainly lived up to expectations.
There was pre-match concern over Kane's fitness after an ankle injury, but the striker was deemed fit enough to start in a strong Bayern line-up. Real Madrid, meanwhile, were looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-1 league defeat to Mallorca, with former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham starting on the bench due to recent injury issues.
Bayern strike first
Bayern started the brighter of the two sides with Konrad Laimer firing over in the opening minutes as they established early control. The visitors should have taken the lead in the ninth minute when Kane headed across goal to find Dayot Upamecano with an empty net at his mercy, but the French defender somehow failed to convert.
Real gradually grew into the contest, with Manuel Neuer making crucial saves to deny both Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.
The breakthrough came in the 41st minute when Bayern punished a Real turnover. Serge Gnabry and Kane combined brilliantly before Gnabry slipped in Díaz, who coolly slotted past Andriy Lunin to give the Bavarians a deserved half-time lead.
Kane doubles advantage, Mbappé responds
Bayern made a sensational start to the second half, doubling their advantage within seconds of the restart. Aleksandar Pavlović won possession from Álvaro Carreras before feeding Michael Olise, who cut inside and laid the ball off to Kane. The England striker made no mistake, guiding a precise first-time shot from outside the box into the bottom corner.
Real almost responded immediately when Upamecano's poor header back to Neuer allowed Vinícius Júnior through on goal, but the Brazilian could only find the side netting. Álvaro Arbeloa introduced Bellingham and Éder Militão just after the hour mark, and the hosts finally pulled a goal back in the 74th minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold set up Mbappé, who finished past Neuer to give the record European champions hope.
Neuer stands firm as Bayern hold on
The goal energised the Bernabeu crowd and Real piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser. Neuer was called into action repeatedly in the closing stages, making crucial saves to deny Vinícius and Éder Militão.
Bayern had opportunities to restore their two-goal advantage on the counter-attack, with Jamal Musiala - who had replaced Gnabry - firing wide from a promising position.
Five-time winners Bayern ultimately held firm to secure a precious away win, giving them a slender advantage to take back to the Allianz Arena for the second leg on 15 April.
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