Real Madrid took a giant stride towards a third consecutive appearance in the Champions League final courtesy of a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
The two-time defending champions were second best for much of the first half after Bayern took the lead through Joshua Kimmich, but the hosts could not build on that advantage despite creating a number of clear chances.
Neither side were anywhere near their brilliant best on the night, but Marcelo’s equaliser against the run of play just before half time ensured Madrid went into the break all square, and Marco Asensio came off the bench to add a second away goal and leave the Spanish giants in the driving seat.
It was a game that needed a goal at that stage, and Bayern provided it shortly before half time when Joshua Kimmich burst on to a through-ball from Real Madrid loanee James Rodriguez before beating Navas at the near post after the Madrid keeper had gambled and looked to cut out a possible cross into the box.
The hosts were immediately back on the front foot, but Thomas Muller’s volley was blocked before it could trouble Navas and Bayern were made to rue their string of missed opportunities just a minute later when Real Madrid levelled the scores against the run of play.
Carvajal’s header from the right flank was allowed to trouble all the way across the edge of the area, and Marcelo reacted quickest to the loose ball to drill a crisp half-volley into the bottom corner, continuing his record of scoring in all of the knockout stages of this season’s competition.
It was a similar story at the start of the second half too as a crucial touch from Raphael Varane denied the hosts what looked like a certain goal, but Jupp Heynckes’s side would ultimately pay for their profligacy as Madrid took the lead shortly before the hour mark.
Trending
- Traditional ruler shot dead inside palace
- Primate Ayodele to Yoruba Nation agitators: You can’t break Nigeria
- Police intercept bags of Indian Hemp at Lagos jetty
- Enugu, families to give Ibu, Junior Pope befitting burial
- Police arrest suspects for attempting to disrupt inauguration of commissioners
- Police rescue three children locked up by grandmother + Photo
- Police foil attack in Katsina, neutralise suspected bandit
- US vetoes Palestine’s request for full UN membership