Mario Gomez netted a crucial last-gasp winner as Bayern Munich took the upper hand against Real Madrid with a 2-1 triumph.
Bundesliga giants in control after late Gomez winner
Mario Gomez netted a crucial last-gasp winner as Bayern Munich took the upper hand in their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie against Real Madrid with a 2-1 win.
The first leg had looked destined to end level after Mesut Ozil netted an equaliser for Jose Mourinho's side in the 53rd minute of the Allianz Arena clash, tapping home a Cristiano Ronaldo ball after the Portuguese star's initial close-range shot had been parried away by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The German's strike cancelled out Franck Ribery's first-half opener, driven into the back of the net after Real failed to properly deal with a Bastian Schweinsteiger corner.
But Bayern re-established their dominance in the 89th minute when Gomez struck with the crucial winner to hand Jupp Heynckes' men a slender lead heading into the second leg at the Bernabeu next Wednesday.
Response
Madrid had the better of the first 10 minutes, but all they could produce was a shot from Karim Benzema which Manuel Neuer tipped over the crossbar after Bastian Schweinsteiger uncharacteristically gave away possession in midfield.
Bayern responded and took the game to their visitors.
Ribery felt he should have had a penalty when he went to ground under a challenge from Sergio Ramos inside the area, but referee Howard Webb waved play on.
But the France winger was soon celebrating as he rifled Bayern in front with a shot from 10 yards, which only just avoided Luiz Gustavo in an offside position.
The hosts were looking dangerous every time they came forward, and those attacks were becoming increasingly frequent, with Arjen Robben marauding down the right and Ribery causing confusion in the Madrid defence down the Bayern left.
But they failed to make their pressure count with Gomez's shot turned behind by Iker Casillas just before the break.
And Madrid levelled on the counter-attack eight minutes after the break.
Ronaldo looked to have wasted the chance when his tame effort, one-on-one with the keeper, was saved by Neuer.
But Karim Benzema picked up the rebound and took the ball back into the area, playing it across goal to Ronaldo, whose clever pull-back gave Ozil a tap-in from a yard out.
Madrid enjoyed their best spell of the game with Bayern and many of the 66,000 fans in the Allianz Arena becoming increasingly anxious.
Back on top
The Bavarians regrouped and soon got back on top of the game, though.
Gomez spurned an excellent chance to put them back in front in the 71st minute when he lifted the ball over the bar from close range after being teed up unwittingly by Ramos.
Gomez headed straight at Casillas as the hosts continued to be frustrated in their attempts to find another goal.
Two hopeful penalty claims were waved away by referee Webb as Bayern kept on pressing and their pressure finally paid off in the 90th minute.
Philipp Lahm got to the byline down the right and fired a ball in which Gomez, sliding in, bundled over the line at the near post.
| FC Bayern München |
Team Statistics |
Real Madrid |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
3 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
6 |
| 6 |
Corners |
4 |
| 20 |
Fouls |
14 |
| 0 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 3 |
Yellow Cards |
6 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 81.3 |
Passing Success |
78.6 |
| 26 |
Tackles |
25 |
| 73.1 |
Tackles Success |
72 |
| 54.7 |
Possession |
45.3 |
| 52.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
47.1 |
|
