First the grit and then the glamour. First a spit and then a polish. And the city of Madrid which has acclaimed itself the “capital of champions” for the purposes of this week’s semi-finals delivered a game to match.
This one flowed and pulsated where Chelsea and Atletico had grunted and grappled in tense combat a few miles to the south, 24 hours earlier and the home crowd went home happy.
It was Karim Benzema who scored the first-half goal which gives Real Madrid the edge against holders Bayern Munich going into Tuesday’s return in Germany and fuels the dream of a tenth European title for the Spanish club.
Euro delight: Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's sole goal in their 1-0 victory
Composed: Benzema (left) scores the opening goal as Bayern's David Alaba can do nothing but look on
To the rescue: Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas makes a late save to deny Bayern's Mario Gotze
Tough going: Pep Guardiola (right) looks dejected as his Bayern Munich side lose at the Bernabeu
MATCH FACTS
Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal, Fabio Coentrao, Alonso, Pepe (Varane 73), Ramos, Modric, Isco (Illarramendi 82), Benzema, Di Maria, Ronaldo (Bale 74)
Subs not used: Marcelo, Casemiro, Morata, Lopez
Goal: Benzema 19
Booking: Isco
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Rafinha (Javi Martinez 66), Alaba, Kroos, Boateng, Dante, Robben, Lahm, Mandzukic, Schweinsteiger (Muller 74), Ribery (Gotze 72)
Subs not used: Pizarro, Weiser, Zingerie, Raeder
Referee: Howard Webb
But Carlo
Ancelotti and his team will feel they could have done more. They had the
chances to reach the final of the Champions League for the first time
since they won it in 2002.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria the most wasteful culprits in white and, something will nag away at them over the next six days. They know Bayern are dangerous and will not surrender their title feebly in the Allianz Arena.
A
cold meant Gareth Bale started on the bench but Ronaldo was back, that
was the reassuring factor for the expectant thousands waving their white
plastic flags inside the Bernabeu Stadium.
Bayern,
aiming for a third successive final, have lost a shade of their
invincibility since winning the Bundesliga with room to spare but they
opened with pace and intent, dominating Real in midfield and threatening
goal.
There
were flashes of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben and more fluency and
free-flowing football in the opening 20 minutes than on display on the
other side of Madrid 24 hours earlier, when Chelsea and Atletico ended
goalless.
A
shot on the spin from Robben deflected wide and Bastian Schweinsteiger
cursed as he planted a free header too close to Iker Casillas from the
corner which followed.
They were on the attack when they went behind. Pepe blocked from Toni Kroos and Real broke with lethal speed, Ronaldo slicing open the German side with a splendid pass to Fabio Coentrao, who was tearing down the left flank on the overlap.
MATCH FACTS
Real Madrid: Casillas 7, Carvajal 6, Fabio Coentrao 6.5, Alonso 6.5, Pepe 7 (Varane 73, 6), Ramos 7, Modric 7, Isco 6 (Illarramendi 82), Benzema 7.5, Di Maria 5.5, Ronaldo 7 (Bale 74, 7)
Subs not used: Marcelo, Casemiro, Morata, Lopez
Goal: Benzema 19
Booking: Isco
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti 7
Bayern Munich: Neuer 7, Rafinha 5 (Javi Martinez 66, 6), Alaba 6, Kroos 6, Boateng 6, Dante 6, Robben 6.5, Lahm 7, Mandzukic 6, Schweinsteiger 6 (Muller 74, 6), Ribery 5 (Gotze 72, 6)
Subs not used: Pizarro, Weiser, Zingerie, Raeder
Manager: Pep Guardiola 6
Man of the Match: Karim Benzema
Referee: Howard Webb 7
*Player ratings by MATT BARLOW at the Santiago Bernabeu
In the air: Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) jumps above Alaba (2nd left) and Dante for the ball
At close quarters: Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery (left) is closed down by Real's Daniel Carvajal
Pulling the trigger: Benzema celebrates in a unique way after his goal at the Santiago Bernabeu
High five: Ronaldo is replaced in the 74th minute by Welshman Gareth Bale
Helping hand: Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm and Real's Gareth Bale (right) challenge for a header
Diving in: Bayern's Brazilian defender Dante (left) makes the tackle on Real's Angel di Maria
Boiling over: Ronaldo shows his frustrations after failing to score in the Champions League semi-final first leg
Shut eye: Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos (left) clears the ball as Bayern's Bastian Schweinsteiger chases
On the ball: Schweinsteiger looks to challenge Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso (centre)
Acrobatics: Pepe (left) and Sergio Ramos (centre) rise high to clear the ball from Ribery
Pulling no punches: Iker Casillas (right) looks to clear the ball as Javier Martinez goes for the header
Charge: Ronaldo advances with the ball as he leaves Jerome Boateng in his wake
I'm here: Robben and Ribery (right) look to claim the corner as Daniel Carvajal (2nd left) urges calm
Close shave: Referee Howard Webb (left) and Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben exchange words
Warm welcome: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti hugs Bayern Munich head coach Pep Guardiola
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