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Real Madrid’s bid for a third straight Champions League title remained on course after a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Bayern Munich.<\/p>\nReal Madrid’s bid for a third straight Champions League title remained on course after a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n
Two high-quality opponents produced numerous uncharacteristic errors, with Joshua Kimmich beating Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas at his near post to give Bayern the lead.<\/p>\n
Marcelo equalized after 44 minutes, after Bayern had lost winger Arjen Robben and defender Jerome Boateng to injury.<\/p>\n
And half-time substitute Marco Asensio struck after 57 minutes, capitalizing on Rafinha’s sloppy pass, to give Zinedine Zidane’s men the advantage ahead of next week’s second leg at the Bernabeu.<\/p>\n
Real’s sixth consecutive win over Bayern means the German champions must score at least twice and overcome the away goals advantage to have any hope of denying 12-time European champions Real’s progress to next month’s final in Kiev.<\/p>\n
Last season the teams – winners of four of the last five European Cups – met at the quarter-final stage, with Real winning 6-3 and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring five of the goals.<\/p>\n
Bayern kept Ronaldo quiet on this occasion – the Portuguese netted in the second half, but the strike was ruled out for handball – but their chances were hampered as Robben departed after just eight minutes.<\/p>\n
Bayern made light of the blow as James Rodriguez, playing against his parent club, found rampaging right-back Kimmich in acres of space, exploiting the space Marcelo had vacated.<\/p>\n
Instead of playing the ball into the center of the area, Kimmich went for goal and was rewarded for his audacity as Keylor Navas was found wanting.<\/p>\n
Navas was also culpable for a Juventus goal in the quarter-final and his error will lead to heightened speculation that Real are in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer.<\/p>\n
Bayern lost Boateng, but had chances for a second. Franck Ribery’s touch let him down as the Real defence opened up and Mats Hummels volleyed over as Robert Lewandowski headed on a corner.<\/p>\n
Real reacted, leveling after a deep cross from left to right was headed back by Dani Carvajal and fell for Marcelo on the edge of the area.<\/p>\n
The Brazil full-back struck the ball low across Sven Ulreich to equalize.<\/p>\n
Bayern still had chances. Lewandowski headed straight at Navas, who gathered at the second attempt.<\/p>\n
And Thomas Muller was off balance when he attempted to glance another Lewandowski header goalwards, the ball going wide.<\/p>\n
Ribery tried to engineer another Bayern goal, but a touch from Raphael Varane took the ball away from Muller.<\/p>\n
Asensio, on for the ineffective Isco, punished Bayern for Rafinha’s misplaced pass.<\/p>\n
Lucas Vazquez played in Asensio and the replacement kept his composure to net.<\/p>\n
Ribery was denied by Navas and then Real lost Carvajal through injury. Karim Benzema came on in his place, with Vazquez moving to right-back.<\/p>\n
Bayern almost exploited the defensive uncertainty when Kimmich’s cross was headed down by Javi Martinez.<\/p>\n
The ball went towards Muller three yards out, but it would not sit for him and Real scrambled clear. Ribery then ran at Vazquez, firing narrowly wide.<\/p>\n
Bayern should have leveled after 88 minutes. Corentin Tolisso played in Lewandowski, but he clipped the ball wide when it appeared easier to score as Real enjoyed a third successive win at the Allianz Arena.<\/p>\n