GOALS from Luis Díaz and Harry Kane, either side of the break, put Bayern ahead, before a goalkeeping masterclass from Manuel Neuer gave the Bavarians their first win over Real Madrid in 14 years.
Bayern Munich dominated the first hour of the game, as Diaz scored right before half-time, and then Kane netted just 21 seconds after the interval, as it looked all set for the visitors to waltz to victory.
Then the Real Madrid onslaught began, and the Neuer masterclass started, as the German keeper had made several saves against the run of play in the first half, but saw his best work happen in the later stages.
A Kylian Mbappé goal with 15 minutes remaining looked to be what Real Madrid needed for yet another Champions League comeback at the Bernabéu. However, the German giant made several big stops and was quick off his line for sweeping duties, allowing Bayern to take the advantage from the first-leg.
The defeat now makes it back-to-back 2-1 losses for Real Madrid, as Los Blancos suffered an away defeat to Mallorca on the weekend, meaning they are seven points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, with their Champions League chances also heavily stacked against them, ahead of a second leg at the Allianz Arena.
Real Madrid were unbeaten in their last nine games against Bayern Munich, winning seven and drawing two, but tonight’s result gave the Bavarians their first win over Los Blancos since 2012, which was a 2-1 home victory during a Champions League semi-final first-leg at the Allianz Arena.
Even more staggeringly, Bayern Munich won their first away match at Real Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabéu stadium, since a 1-0 Champions League semi-final victory way back in 2001.
Story of the Match
Team News
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa made three changes to the side that suffered a 2-1 away defeat to Mallorca last Saturday, as Federico Valverde returned from suspension to replace Eduardo Camavinga, while Vinícius Jr. and Thiago Pitarch came in for Brahim Díaz and Manuel Ángel.
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany made five changes to the team that beat Freiburg, as Kane replaced Lennart Karl, whilst Michael Olise, Aleksandar Pavlović, Dayot Upamecano, and Konrad Laimer came in for Tom Bischof, Leon Goretzka, Kim Min-Jae, and Raphael Guerreiro.
First Half
The first chance of the game happened inside the opening minute for Bayern Munich, when Joshua Kimmich passed the ball to the edge of the box, as Konrad Laimer blasted his shot over the bar.
Bayern Munich had an even better chance to take the lead just minutes later, when Kimmich lobbed a cross into the back post, as Kane headed back across goal, only to see Dayot Upamecano scuff his shot from five yards out, allowing Álvaro Carreras to clear the ball off the line.
Real Madrid had their first chance of the game on the fifteen minute mark, when Arda Güler played in Mbappé down the left side of the box, before the Frenchman’s shot was saved by Manuel Neuer, as the German keeper also kept out a Vinícius Jr. attempt just moments later.
Both teams had more chances on the half-hour mark, when Serge Gnabry failed to poke a close range shot past Andriy Lunin, before Mbappe went up the other end and saw his strike-across-goal saved by Neuer.
Bayern Munich finally had their deserved lead just before half-time, when Gnabry played a neat ball into the box which Díaz ran onto, before wrapping around the ball and drilling a finish into the bottom corner.
Second Half
It took just 21 seconds after the break for Bayern Munich to double their lead, when Olise charged down the right flank, before finding Kane, in space, on the edge of the box, as the Englishman whipped a shot past Lunin, and into the bottom right corner of the net.
Real Madrid then had a massive chance to drag one back, when Vinicius intercepted a horrific back-pass from Upamecano, but failed to get around Neuer, resulting in his shot hitting the side-netting.
Neuer then continued his excellent evening by tipping wide a fierce Mbappe shot that snuck under a defender and was heading for the corner, before keeping out the Frenchman again just minutes later.
Mbappe was not be denied for long, finally beating Neuer when Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a beautiful cross to the back post, as the French forward just about bundled the ball over the line.
With just 15 minutes of normal time remaining, Bayern Munich had to once again rely on Neuer to make save after save, as the visitors just about weathered the Real Madrid storm.
Kompany’s team then had a massive wave of attacks right at the end of the game, but despite incredible passing movements, Bayern Munich were unable to extend their lead, taking a 2-1 win to Bavaria.
Player of the Match: Manuel Neuer
The legendary German keeper pulled out a performance straight from his prime years, and proved why he is still his nation’s, and Bayern Munich’s, number one shotstopper, despite turning 40 just 11 days ago.
An incredible nine saves in different scenarios and different positions, alongside constantly sweeping behind Bayern Munich’s high line, was the key to the Bavarians leaving Madrid with the advantage.
