Bayern 1-2 Real Madrid Champions League: match report
Real Madrid came from behind to beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League thanks to goals from Marcelo and half-time substitute Marco Asensio. LAFC vs LA Galaxy: Vela vs Zlatan live online, MLS week 25
Bayern 1-2 Real Madrid: match report
All eyes were on who Zinedine Zidane picked to start in the last attacking position alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Isco. It was the man who he left out, Marco Asensio, that ended up winning the game for Real Madrid as they take a 2-1 lead back to the Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg.
For two familiar foes playing in Europe, the opening exchanges were as frenetic and tense as you might expect. There was little or no pattern to the game and it was coast-to-coast type football from both sides. Bayern settled into a rhythm before Real Madrid could but the opening goal came from a counter attack by the home side.
Joshua Kimmich broke down the right, with Marcelo left struggling to make it back to his position. The right-back drove a hopeful shot towards goal and found Keylor Navas badly out of position too as the ball slammed to the back of the net.
If Marcelo was out of position for that goal, he was right where he needed to be 16 minutes later. The ball scuttered to him across the box and as Ronaldo considered a chilena, everyone waited to see if he would chance it. He didn't but it bounced to the Brazilian and he drove past Ulreich in goals, who barely saw it let alone have any chance of saving it. His dive in the direction was a token gesture and five yards short of meeting the ball before it nestled in the bottom corner.
Bayern pushed for a goal to put them back ahead but it never came as Real Madrid rode their luck until the break.
Zidane, who is never shy of a change at the break, switched Isco with Marco Asensio. It would only take him 12 minutes to put his side ahead. A howler from Rafinha gifted the ball to the substitute and after a one-two with Lucas Vazquez, he hit a chip/shot hybrid past the Bayern keeper.
Bayern pushed for the equaliser and came close on a number of ocassions but an ominous blend of dreadful finishing and excellent goalkeeping kept them from troubling the scoreboard.
Jupp Heynckes side have areas to improve on but were the better team on the night. Yet, once again, Zidane's charges are heading into the second leg of a Champions League knockout with home advantage and a healthy scoreline to boot.
Zinedine Zidane: "Isco made the difference"
Sergio Ramos: "We've done nothing yet, we need to finish this at home"
Jupp Heynckes: "We gifted them two goals, it's no surprise we lost"
Bayern 1-2 Real Madrid: as it happened
