Bayern Defeats Madrid 2-1 With Ribery and Gomez Goals

Bayern started slow and Real Madrid initially dominated the match and were the better team in the first 15 minutes.  As the game progressed, Bayern improved their game significantly.  The remaining 30 minutes saw a balanced match with good chances on either side.

Ribery opened the scoring in the 17th minute.  After a corner kick,  Real was unable to clear the ball out of the penalty area.  The ball bounced to Ribery, who drop kicked it into the net for a 1-0 lead.  The goal obviously heightened Bayern's self confidence, as they continued attacking the Madrid net, with excellent combinations.

From the start of the second half, Madrid noticeably ramped up the tempo.  Madrid's efforts paid off in the 53rd minute  when Ronaldo appeared in front of Bayern goal unchallenged, but was stopped by Manuel Neuer.  The Bayern defence was unable to clear the ball and Benzema fired it at the goal post.  The rebound came  to Ronald who lobbed the ball into the middle, where Mezil Oezil easily put it in the net for a 1-1 draw.  Mueller replaced Bastian Schweinsteiger in the 61st minute. 

After the tying game, Madrid seemed to be content to start the second leg with an away goal.  Bayern kept pushing for a winning goal and it paid off in the 90th minute, when Lahm moved around Contrao and delivered a pass into the penalty area, where Gomez was in place to transport the ball into the net.

Bayern had to battle through three minutes of extra time to maintain their lead.  The Bayern win was fully deserved, since Madrid was content to lay back after Oezil's goal.  Bayern moves into the second leg with a goal advantage.  It will take a strong effort on their part to win the aggregate. 


FC Bayern:  Neuer- Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Alaba - Gustavo, Schweinsteiger (Mueller 61st) - Robben, Kroos, Ribery - Gomez 

Real Madrid:  Casillas - Arbeloa, Pepe, Roma, Contrao - Alonso, Khedira - Di Maria (Granero 80th), Oezil (Viera 69th), Ronaldo - Benzima (Higuain 84th)