(foto: Getty Images)
Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid 2-1 in Madrid after a dominant first half, taking a crucial advantage ahead of the return leg in Germany.
Bayern Munich took a major step toward the Champions League semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The German side delivered a strong performance, especially in the first half, where they imposed high pressure and controlled the tempo against the hosts.
Bayern created several clear chances early on. The best opportunity fell to Dayot Upamecano, who found himself in a perfect position but failed to connect properly with the ball from close range.
The breakthrough came in the 41st minute.
Serge Gnabry set up Luis Díaz, who punished a mistake by Vinícius Júnior and scored for 0-1.
Bayern carried that momentum into the second half and struck again almost immediately.
Just 20 seconds after the restart, Harry Kane fired a precise shot from outside the penalty area to make it 0-2, with Michael Olise providing the assist.
Real Madrid responded after the hour mark.
Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé both tested Andriy Lunin, increasing the pressure as the match progressed.
The comeback effort paid off in the 74th minute, when Mbappé finished after a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold to reduce the deficit to 1-2.
The final minutes brought intense pressure from Madrid, while Bayern also had a chance through Jamal Musiala, but the score remained unchanged.
The result gives Bayern Munich a valuable advantage ahead of the return leg in Germany, where they will try to resist the well-known Real Madrid comeback threat.
Champions League quarter-final, first leg:
Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich
74’ Mbappé ; 41’ Luis Díaz, 46’ Harry Kane