Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich; UEFA Champions League Quarter Final
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich. UEFA Champions League Quarter Final.
Estadio BernabeuAttendance77,106.
Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich: Harry Kane strikes to earn Champions League first-leg victory over 15-time winners
Report as Bayern Munich earn first-leg victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium; Luis Diaz scores opener before half-time and Harry Kane doubles lead just 20 seconds after the break; Kylian Mbappe pulls one back for Real Madrid with Manuel Neuer making nine saves
Tuesday 7 April 2026 23:03, UK
Harry Kane earned Bayern Munich a priceless 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Kane returned from an ankle injury to net his 49th goal of the season in 41 appearances for the German side when he brilliantly side-footed in from the edge of the penalty area just 20 seconds into the second half, adding to Luis Diaz's clinical finish that came shortly before half-time.
Kylian Mbappe finally beat Bayern's magnificent 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who made nine saves, with a tap-in from Trent Alexander-Arnold's fine cross to pull one back for the hosts in the 74th minute and make their task less daunting when they head to the Allianz Arena next Wednesday.
Both sides had 20 shots each, with 17 of them on target in a breathless tie that lived up to its billing. Bayern showed why many are tipping them as favourites for the competition in the first half, but Real were always a threat on the counter through Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Neuer denied the pair multiple times while Bayern centre-back Dayot Upamecano somehow failed to score from just yards out, with Alvaro Carreras clearing his effort off the line. It was a rare positive moment for the Real left-back, who was run ragged by the unplayable Michael Olise all evening.
Serge Gnabry also wasted a clear opportunity when Real played themselves into trouble, but the Bayern forward combined with Kane late in the half and slipped in Diaz to slot in the opener.
Kane had a quiet first half, none of the chances falling his way, until Bayern caught Real cold after the restart. Olise teed up the striker on the edge of the box and he expertly finished into the bottom right corner.
Vinicius was jeered by the home fans when he missed the target from an angle after rounding Neuer and Mbappe still couldn't find a way past the goalkeeper either with his low shot that was tipped behind.
However, the introduction of Jude Bellingham gave the hosts a lift and Alexander-Arnold showed his crossing ability, driving the ball low across the area for Mbappe to tap in despite Neuer getting a hand to push it onto the underside of the crossbar before it crossed the line.
Neuer had to save again from Vinicius and Bayern sub Jamal Musiala wasted a late chance to leave the second leg nicely poised.
Arbeloa: We can win anywhere
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa:
"I think he (Neuer) was the MVP, so we had so many chances to score some more goals. We couldn't do it, but we are still alive and we will go there with hope that we can win in Germany.
"It's not going to be easy. I played there many times and we know the atmosphere in the Allianz is not easy for the opponents. But we are Real Madrid, so we can win anywhere."
Kompany: We'll score those chances at home
Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany:
"The few chances that I feel we should have put to bed, we will be able to score when we go to the Allianz. But I see no reason for us not to go into that next game with full belief and an idea to just go and win the game, although we play against a team with incredible talent."
On Neuer: "He makes it look so easy, that's what you get with great goalkeepers. They make some incredible saves at really difficult angles look really easy, but there's also a level of technique to pat the ball away from the dangerous area."
Kane: Only a one-goal lead - we have to stay focused
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane:
"Coming to Madrid and trying to get a result is always a difficult thing to do, but I thought we played some really good stuff today. For sure there are areas we could have done even better as well and maybe the final ball, the final finish, we had some good chances there but credit to them that they did as well.
"Manu[el Neuer] made some really good saves so overall we can be really happy with the win and we take this into next week.
"We're in a good position but it's a one-goal lead, it can change really quick so we have to stay focused."
Opta facts: Arbeloa equals Alonso defeats
- Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since April 2012 (2-1), ending a run of nine meetings in the competition without a victory (D2 L7).
- This is just the sixth time in their history that Real Madrid have lost at home in the first leg of a two-legged knockout stage tie in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, and first since the 2019-20 round of 16 v Manchester City (1-2). They failed to progress from each of the previous five ties.
- Real Madrid have already lost as many games under Álvaro Arbeloa (6 defeats in 19 games - W13) as they did in 34 games under previous manager Xabi Alonso (6 - W24 D4).
- This was the only the second time on record (since 2003-04) that Real Madrid have both had 20+ shots and faced 20+ shots in a UEFA Champions League knockout stage game - the previous one was also against Bayern Munich in a quarter-final at the Bernabeu (April 2017).
- Kylian Mbappe has scored 14 goals in 10 UEFA Champions League games this season, the most by a player in a single edition since Karim Benzema's 15 in 2021-22 (also for Real Madrid).
