Marco Asensio sucker punch gives Real Madrid advantage
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Updated 25/04/2018 at 21:34 GMT
Champions League semi-final, first leg, Allianz Arena - Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 28') Real Madrid 2 (Marcelo 44', Asensio 57')
Marco Asensio, buteur décisif du Real Madrid sur la pelouse du Bayern Munich en demi-finale aller de la Ligue des champions
Image credit: Getty Images
Goals from Marcelo and Marco Asensio gave Real Madrid a pivotal 2-1 victory at Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in the Allianz Arena.
Right-back Joshua Kimmich gave Bayern the lead in the 28th minute when he clipped the ball past Keylor Navas. However Bayern, who lost Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng to injury, couldn't take their chances and Marcelo drew Real level with a fabulous strike from the edge of the area just before half time.
And the reigning champions did what they do best as substitute Asensio capitalised on an error from Rafinha before dinking the ball past Sven Ulreich in the 57th minute to keep them on course for an unprecedented third-straight Champions League crown.
After a scrappy opening, Bayern scored a somewhat fortunate opener, as Kimmich wrong-footed Navas in the Real goal to find the net. The Real stopper will feel he could have done much, much better.
Bayern continued to dominate, with Real looking ragged at the back. However, against the run of play, Marcelo fired home his third goal in as many rounds in this season’s Champions League to level.
Real came out for the second half with added impetus after Asensio’s introduction, and soon enough the supersub Asensio capitalised on a mistake from Rafinha to give Real the advantage in the tie.
The hosts could not find a way back into the match on a night where some big players in red chose the wrong evening to have a off night, as Bayern suffered their first home defeat of the season in all competitions, while Real put one foot in the final. On a big European night, Real have done it again.
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FC Bayern - Real Madrid: Jerome Boateng battles with Toni Kroos for the ball
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TALKING POINT
How do Real keep doing it? While their league form has stuttered, Real Madrid have continued to pull of the big Champions League performances time and again, utilising all their knowhow of top-level European knockout competition. They rode their luck against Bayern in last year’s quarter-final success over the Bavarians, as they did against Juventus last time out. In the Allianz, they were on the back foot for much of the contest, sloppy at the back, but they scored goals at crucial times, taking their chances when it really counted - a true sign of champions.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Sergio Ramos. The skipper makes all the difference at the back. Real were all over the place against Juventus without the suspended Ramos, but with their leader in the heart of defence, they got the job done in Germany. As a team, they looked a little vulnerable, but Ramos stood firm, making some crucial blocks. No Real player gained possession on more occasions.
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Bayern Munich's German forward Thomas Mueller (R) reacts next to Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg football match FC Bayern Munich v Real Madrid CF in Munich in southern Germany on April 25,
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PLAYER RATINGS
Bayern Munich: Ulreich 7; Kimmich 7, Hummels 6, Boateng 6, Rafinha 4; Martinez 4; Robben 5, James 4, Ribery 7; Müller 4; Lewandowski 3... Subs: Tolliso 6, Sule 6, Thiago 4.
Real Madrid: Navas 5; Carvajal 5, Varane 6, Ramos 8, Marcelo 7; Casemiro 6; Kroos 6, Modric 5; Lucas Vázquez 7, Isco 5; Ronaldo 5... Subs: Asensio 6, Kovacic 6, Benzema 6.
KEY MOMENTS
28’ - GOOOOOALLL!!!! Bayern Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid. Strange goal from Josh Kimmich gives the host the lead. What was Navas doing there? Great ball from James to play Kimmich through, who had time and space to drive into the box, he fired for goal from the angle, which wrong-footed Navas and flew into the net. If the Real 'keeper would have stayed on his feet, he'd have caught it. He went down far too early.
41’ - CHAAAAANCE! Lewandowski flicks the corner to the back post, Hummels is there, but he cannot guide the volley on target.
43’ - BLOCK! Real need half time here. Rafinha clips the cross into the middle, Muller arrives to volley for goal, but Ramos makes an important block.
44’ - GOAL!!! Bayern Munich 1-1 Real Madrid. Another full-back on the scoresheet as Marcelo fires in from the edge of the box. Talk about against the run of play! A very simple goal, as Carvajal heads across the box, it falls for Marcelo, who lashes the ball into the bottom corner. Three goals in three rounds for the Brazilian.
51' - CHAAAANCE! How has that not gone in? Ribery gets to the byline, pokes the ball across goal, Muller is there, but cannot connect, as Real scramble it clear.
57' - GOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!! Bayern Munich 1-2 Real Madrid. They have done it again. Asensio strokes the ball home to give Real the lead. Dreadful, dreadful error from Rafinha gifts Real the advantage in the tie. Rafinha's pass is woeful, he could only pick out Asensio, who laid it off for Vazquez, it was two on one in Real's favour, Vazquez returned the ball to Asensio, who fired home.
60' - SAVE! Navas makes up for his earlier error with a fine stop to deny Ribery, after he had twisted and turned in the box.
68' - CHANCE!!!! How has he missed that? Ribery heads the ball back across for Muller, he swivels to shoot, practically on the line, but he cannot connect, with Ramos getting his body in there. Hosts want a penalty, but the referee waves away any appeals.
72' - NO GOAL! Ronaldo brings the ball down out of the sky and fires brilliantly into the net, but he is penalised for handball. Correct decision.
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Franck Ribery of Bayern Muenchen and teammates look dejected following the UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg match between Bayern Muenchen and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena on April 25, 2018 in Munich, Germany.
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KEY STATS
- Real Madrid have now won six consecutive Champions League matches against Bayern Munich, their joint-longest run against an opponent in the competition’s history, also winning six in a row against Ajax between 2010 and 2012.
- This was Real Madrid’s 150th Champions League win, making them the first team to reach this milestone.
- Marco Asensio’s last three Champions League goals have been as a substitute, with all of them coming in knockout matches – two against Bayern (last season’s quarter-final and tonight) and one against Juventus in last season’s final.
- Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score in a Champions League match for the first time since May 2017, ending a run of 11 consecutive scoring matches in the competition – it was also the first time he’d failed to attempt a shot on target in a Champions League match since February 2017 against Napoli.
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