Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer sensational but will they rue missed chances? | OneFootball

Bayern Munich secured a 2–1 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabeu, taking a narrow advantage into the return fixture.

Despite the positive result, Bayern may feel the margin should have been greater, having created a host of clear-cut opportunities across both halves in what was an enthralling contest between two European heavyweights.

Goals from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane put the visitors firmly in control, but Kylian Mbappe’s late effort ensured Madrid remain very much alive in the tie.

Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich: Match report

The game burst into life from the opening minutes, played at a relentless tempo as both sides looked to impose themselves early.

Bayern carved out the first major chance inside eight minutes when Dayot Upamecano found himself unmarked just yards from goal, but he failed to convert from point-blank range after being set up by Kane.

Madrid responded swiftly, with Arda Guler threading a superb through ball into the path of Mbappe, whose effort was brilliantly denied by Manuel Neuer as the veteran goalkeeper rushed off his line.

The hosts continued to threaten on the counter, as Guler again played a key role in launching a sweeping move that ended with Vinicius Junior forcing another sharp save from Neuer after being picked out inside the box.

However, Madrid were nearly punished for attempting to play out from the back, as a misplaced pass gifted possession to Serge Gnabry, whose instinctive effort was kept out by Andrii Lunin.

Mbappe remained Madrid’s biggest threat, driving forward repeatedly and testing Neuer again with a powerful low strike, but Bayern’s goalkeeper continued to stand firm.

The breakthrough eventually came through a beautifully worked Bayern move, as Kane combined with Gnabry before Diaz applied a composed finish. The move underlined Bayern’s attacking cohesion, with Gnabry registering his fifth assist of the campaign and Diaz netting his fifth goal in this competition.

Bayern carried their momentum into the second half and struck almost immediately after the restart.

Kane, who had been relatively quiet in the first period, needed just one opportunity to make his mark, firing a precise shot into the bottom corner after being found in space by Michael Olise.

The visitors continued to dominate proceedings, with Olise himself testing the goalkeeper from distance, while Madrid struggled to contain Bayern’s fluid attacking play.

Another defensive lapse from Bayern nearly handed Madrid a route back into the game, as Upamecano’s misjudged header allowed Vinicius a clear sight of goal, but Neuer once again came to the rescue with a commanding intervention.

Moments later, Neuer produced one of the saves of the night, getting down quickly to deny Mbappe from close range after he had been played through by Jude Bellingham.

Madrid continued to push forward and eventually found a breakthrough when a superb delivery from Trent Alexander-Arnold picked out Kylian Mbappe at the far post, allowing the Frenchman to tap home and reduce the deficit.

Despite late chances at both ends, including a missed opportunity for Jamal Musiala, Bayern held firm to take a slender lead into the second leg, though they may yet rue the chances they failed to convert.

STAT: Bayern beat Real Madrid for the first time since 2012.