Brave Bayern go down fighting

FC Bayern's dream of making the Champions League semi-finals for a seventh time in a row was heartbreakingly dashed in Tuesday's last eight return away to Real Madrid after Carlo Ancelotti's brave team got easily the worst of some crucial refereeing decisions and fell 4-2 on the night, exiting the competition 6-3 on aggregate.

The Bavarians dominated proceedings for long spells and drew first blood when Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring from the spot soon after the restart. Cristiano Ronaldo levelled the scores midway through the second half, but Real's Sergio Ramos put through his own goal following a mix-up in the box with a quarter-hour to go.

Arturo Vidal was sent off in the closing stages of normal time, and after living up to the Herculean task of levelling the scores on aggregate, the German record champions faced the even tougher challenge of prevailing away to Real Madrid with ten men in extra-time. The hosts then made best use of their advantages, Ronaldo scoring two more goals to seal a hat-trick before Asensio added his name to the scoresheet.

The Bavarians lined up with Manuel Neuer between the sticks and a back four featuring Philipp Lahm, Jérôme Boateng, Mats Hummels and David Alaba. Arturo Vidal and Xabi Alonso took up station in front of the rearguard and behind midfield maestro Thiago, with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry out wide looking to serve orthodox centre-forward Robert Lewandowski.

Carlo Ancelotti made seven changes to the team that drew Saturday's match away to Leverkusen. Boateng, Hummels and Lewandowski recovered from their knocks in time for the mouth-watering clash, with skipper Lahm, Alonso and wing wizards Robben and Ribéry returning after a breather.

Reds dominant, Real more dangerous

After match official Viktor Kassai whistled play underway the Reds went straight onto the front foot, looking to make up for the 2-1 reverse at the Allianz Arena, and the first chance came when a Thiago shot from close range was blocked and Robben's rebound hit the side-netting. Five minutes later a Vidal 20-yarder went over the bar.

After a quarter-hour of one-way traffic the hosts woke up, and the cauldron of noise created by the 85,454 capacity crowd at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu saw a high-octane encounter between two sides looking to attack. It meant the forwards at either end had some space, and Neuer soon denied Carvajal with a fine save before Ramos beat the Bayern netminder, only for Jérome Boateng to scramble his effort off the goal-line. Alaba fired a free-kick over the bar before Kroos drew another save from Neuer, and Real were still 2-1 up on aggregate at half-time.

FCB level on aggregate but go a man down

Proceedings were similar after the restart, the exception being that the visitors not only dominated possession, but also made it count. Robben overcame Real keeper Keylor Navas with a fine chip but Marcelo cleared off the line. The Dutchman was felled in the box ten minutes into the second half, Lewandowski netting the ensuing penalty. A minute later Vidal miscued an acrobatic volley from another Robben chip.

Real levelled the scores when Ronaldo connected with a Casemiro cross to head home, but barely 120 seconds later Bayern's relentless pressure paid off when Ramos scored an own goal after sub Thomas Müller caused havoc in the home box. With the tie level on aggregate, it was a shock for Ancelotti's troops when Vidal controversially saw a second yellow card and earned his marching orders shortly before 90 minutes had been played, the match going to extra-time.

Ronaldo downs decimated Reds

Bayern centre-backs Boateng and Hummels both turned in a blistering display given the circumstances, both having returned to the line-up after injuries, but the additional half-hour was too much for them and their eight remaining team-mates. Neuer prevented a leveller with fine saves at first, but the injuries and Vidal's dismissal took their toll when Ronaldo slotted home - replays showed that the Portugal captain was at least a yard offside - following a cross from former FCB man Toni Kroos. Marcelo soon impressed with a mazy dribble and invited Ronaldo to round off his hat-trick, again from an albeit marginally offside position, before Asensio sealed the final scoreline.

The Reds are back in action on Saturday, when they entertain FSV Mainz in the Bundesliga before crossing swords with Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Cup last four next Wednesday.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen

Real Madrid - FC Bayern 4-2 (AET, 0-0, 1-2)