Munich: Real Madrid moved a step closer to a third straight Champions League title after substitute Marco Asensio hit the winner Wednesday in a 2-1 semifinal, first leg victory against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
The 22-year-old came off the bench to finish a counter-attack and complete the holders’ comeback win, giving the Spanish giants the advantage for the return game in Madrid, to be played, Tuesday.
“We knew what to expect, we did well and put in a good performance,” said Real captain Sergio Ramos. “There is still the return to come, but we’ll be very focused and we defended well, that was the main thing.”
Bayern took the lead at the sold-out Allianz Arena through Joshua Kimmich, but Marcelo equalised just before the break and then Asensio ensured three points for the visitors.
“In the middle of the first half, we were playing well, but we lacked the killer instinct,” said Bayern skipper Thomas Mueller. “Everything is still possible, but we did ourselves no favours today (Wednesday).”
In fact, it was Bayern who dominated the game, they had 62% of ball possession and had 12 shots at the Real goal, but could score only once. The Spanish side on the other hand took eight shots and scored twice.
Real coach Zinedine Zidane pulled a surprise before kick-off by leaving both Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema out of the starting line-up.
Isco, who was replaced by Asensio at half time, and Lucas Vazquez played either side of Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a subdued night up front here.
The Portuguese failed to add to his tally of 15 Champions League goals this season, being denied a second half strike by an offside flag, which would have made it 3-1.
The hosts suffered a blow with barely five minutes gone when Arjen Robben limped off to be replaced by Thiago Alcantara. They took the lead when Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich played the ball down the flank, James Rodriguez released Kimmich with a perfectly-timed pass in the 28th minute. The Germany international raced clear and caught out Navas at his near post to stun Real.
Real had a left-off when Ribery went one-on-one with Navas, but stumbled at the crucial moment.
Then from nothing, Marcelo conjured the equaliser on 44 minutes. When Dani Carvajal headed the ball across the edge of the box, it landed at Marcelo’s feet and was in Bayern’s net moments later after a fierce left-footed shot.
The move to replace Isco with Asensio for the second half, paid off. Rafinha lost the ball in midfield after a Bayern attack, and Vazquez sprinted clear and put Asensio into space to curl past Ulreich on 57 minutes.
Bayern face UEFA action
Zurich: Bayern Munich are facing disciplinary action after several fans ran onto the pitch at the Allianz Arena following their 1-2 defeat Wednesday. UEFA said in a statement that the Bundesliga champions had been charged over a ‘field invasion’ by the fans plus the display of a banner containing a ‘message of an offensive nature’ following the match. The case would be heard May 31.
Agencies
