Bayern’s quest to become the first team to contest the Champions League final on their home turf is well and truly alive, after Tuesday night’s semi-final first leg in Munich ended in a famous 2-1 victory, courtesy of Mario Gomez’ last-minute winner. FCB deserved it on chances alone as Real’s unbeaten run ended at 20 matches, although the Spaniards did claim a valuable away goal on a rare second-half break.
The 66,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena erupted on 17 minutes when Franck Ribery handed Jupp Heynckes’ side the lead, after which an engrossing game ebbed and flowed with half-chances at both ends before the break.
Bayern were in the driving seat in the early exchanges after the restart, but Mesut Özil levelled the scores from close range against the run of play with 53 minutes played. The home side had much the better of the play and the chances for a long spell afterwards, but Real parked the proverbial bus in front of their own goal and the game seemed certain to end in stalemate, until Gomez stormed in at the end to seal victory.
The result means FCB go into the return leg needing to avoid a 1-0 defeat or any reverse by two goals or more in order to make the final at their home stadium on 19 May. The Bavarians are next in action away to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday, before the trip to Madrid for the decisive semi-final second leg on Wednesday 25 April.
Topics of this article