Bayern Munich 1-2 Real Madrid

Cristiano RonaldoImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored 100 times in Uefa competitions

Cristiano Ronaldo ended a seven-month Champions League goal drought as holders Real Madrid came from behind to beat 10-man Bayern Munich in the first leg of their quarter-final in Munich.

Ronaldo, the Champions League's record goalscorer, scored twice in the second half to end an 11-hour wait for a goal and put the 11-times winners in charge.

Arturo Vidal had headed Bayern ahead but then wasted a chance to double their lead when he blasted a penalty over the crossbar.

And Ronaldo then twice clinically converted from crosses either side of Javi Martinez's red card to move to 97 Champions League goals.

Bayern were kept in the game after going down to 10 men by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who saved brilliantly from Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo.

But the Germany international will feel he should have done better for Ronaldo's winner as the Portuguese stabbed a shot through his legs from close range.

Real may also leave with regrets, as they could have taken a commanding lead into next week's second leg at the Bernabeu.

As well as Neuer's string of saves, captain Sergio Ramos had a last-minute header correctly ruled out for offside before Ronaldo lost his footing when seemingly well placed to meet a cross when unmarked four yards out.

Real turn to their difference maker

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

Ronaldo had more shots (8) and shots on target (4) than any other player

Ronaldo was anonymous in a first half which was controlled by Bayern but the former Manchester United man dominated after the break to carry his side into a strong position.

The forward had not scored in the Champions League since a draw with Borussia Dortmund in late September but found space brilliantly 97 seconds into the second half to steer Dani Carvajal's precise cross into the bottom corner.

Real have now scored in each of their 53 games in all competitions this season.

Ronaldo was then the key figure as Martinez picked up two bookings in three minutes, both for needless fouls around the halfway line on the Real number seven.

Bayern, who had won their last 16 Champions League games at the Allianz, were forced into survival mode by the red card and only Neuer's excellence prevented the Spanish side from forging ahead.

But Ronaldo found the winner Real deserved when he poked substitute Marco Asensio's cross through Neuer's legs with the studs of his right boot.

Most goals in Uefa competitions

Player

Goals

Games

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid)

100

143

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

97

118

Raul (Real Madrid, Schalke)

76

158

Filippo Inzaghi (Parma, Juventus, AC Milan)

70

114

Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan, Chelsea)

67

142

Vital miss from Vidal?

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Arturo Vidal slammed over as he missed the fifth penalty of his career

Without injured striker Robert Lewandowski, who has scored 38 goals in 40 appearances this season, Bayern were reliant on midfielder Vidal to carry a goal threat as they edged a scrappy first half.

The Chilean powered in a header to open the scoring and was on the end of Arjen Robben's clever cross to head their next best chance over the top.

But perhaps the key moment of the night came right at the end of the half. Referee Nicola Rizzoli awarded a penalty when Franck Ribery's shot hit Carvajal at the top of his arm, but after a lengthy wait Vidal fired it well over the top.

Carlo Ancelotti's side barely registered after the break, managing just two attempts on goal in contrast to their 11 in the first half, and they must hope that Poland goal-machine Lewandowski can recover from a shoulder problem to lead the line in Madrid next week.

Man of the match - Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

Image source, Getty Images

Ronaldo's double turned the game on its head but without Neuer's show of defiance Real would already be assured of a place in their 28th European Cup semi-final.

In the first half he touched a Benzema header onto the underside of the crossbar before, in a matter of minutes, turning Bale's header over from just four yards out, saving from Benzema with his legs and then making a superb one-handed save to keep out Ronaldo's drive from eight yards out.

Four superb saves - but then he was beaten by Ronaldo's second from close range.

'Third goal would have been a bonus' - what the managers said

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane: "It's a big result, it isn't easy to come here and win.

"It always comes down to small margins, you have to believe until the end and we did that. When they went down to 10 men we created plenty of chances and it was a shame that we didn't get the third. Their keeper was in top form.

"A third goal would have been a bonus."

Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti: "It will be difficult in 90 minutes in Madrid but we are still alive. We missed the penalty which would have put us 2-0 up and then within three minutes it was 1-1."

659 and out - the key stats

  • Cristiano Ronaldo ended a run of six Champions League games without scoring, ending his drought at 659 minutes.

  • Ronaldo has scored six times in five previous Champions League games against Bayern.

  • Ronaldo's second was his 100th goal in Uefa club competitions (97 Champions League 1 CL qualifier, 2 European Super Cup).

  • Arturo Vidal has scored three times in his last two Champions League games, as many as he had in his previous 29 appearances in the competition.

  • Thiago Alcantara has more assists than any other Bayern player in the Champions League since the start of last season (7).

  • There were 173 seconds between Javi Martinez's first and second yellow cards in this match.

  • Only Juventus (22) have received more red cards in Champions League history than Bayern (18, level with Arsenal).

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