Bayern defeats Real Madrid with Penalty shots 3-1

FC Bayern Muenchen defeated Real Madrid in a penalty shoot out.  Both teams definitely deserved to be in the final, but in the end it could be only one winner.  A superb performance by both teams.   

The first half started with Madrid having slightly more ball possession than FC Bayern, and Madrid pressed hard to get a goal.  Alaba drew a whistle and penalty kick, on harsh call, after his arm was struck by a ball.  However a call is a call.  On the opposite end there was another penalty call when Pepe fouled Arjen Robben just inside the penalty box. 

After a handball by Alaba in the box, the penalty awarded by the Hungarian referee, was concverted by Cristiano Ronaldo in the sixth minute, 1-0 for Madrid. Alaba determined to make up the error, charged back on the left side, delivering a perfect pass to Robben, who put it over the target.

Cristiano Ronaldo got Real Madrid's second goal when Mezul Oezil played a soft ball into his path and he did not disappoint in front of goal.  2-0 Madrid.

Arjen Robben narrowed the lead from the penalty spot in the 27th minute.  That was the second penalty shot of the night.  The match was now equal in aggregate.  

Bayern led in shots on goal 10 against 7, as well as ball possession of 58% against Madrid's 42% in the first  half.

During the second half the teams were relatively evenly matched with chances on either side.  Ronaldo missed three free kicks, two of them into the arms of Neuer, while the third went well over the target.  Gomez, on the  opposite side missed his best chance of the game when he was in the open after a pass from Robben.  

After the second half Bayern still lead in ball possession 55% to 45%, with 17 to 12 shots on goal.  After regular time the two teams were tied in aggregate 3-3.  30 minutes of overtime were played to sort it out, without result


After another 30 minutes of overtime, the two arguably best teams in the Championsleague fought to a 3-3 aggregate.  The game went to penalty shots. Too bad the game had to be decided that way.  Both teams belonged into the final.  85,000 continued to be on the edge of their seats. 


Penalty Shots -


1st - David Alaba - 1-0 Munich
2nd - Cristiano Ronaldo - Neuer saves the shot 1-0 Munich
3rd - Mario Gomez - 2-0Munich
4th - Kaka - Neuer saves it 2-0 Munich
5th - Toni Kroos - Casillas saves it 2-0 Munich
6th - Xabi Alonso - 2-1 Munich



7th - Phillip Lahm - Casillas saves 2-1 Munich 
8th - Sergeo Ramos - Fires it over the net 2-1 Munich 
9th - Bastian Schweinsteiger - 3-1 Bayern

Bayern will be facing Chelsea at the Allianz Arena in the final 



Real Madrid:  Casillas, Pepe, Ramos, Khedira, Ronaldo, Benzema (Higuain 76th) , Özil (Granero 11th), Marcelo, Alonso, Arbeloa, Di María (Kaka 75th)

FC Bayern: Neuer - Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Alaba - Schweinsteiger, Luiz Gustavo - Robben, Kroos, Ribery (Mueller 95th)  - Gomez

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)

Champions League Semi-Final - Difficult Tasks for Chelsea and Bayern

 Leg 1 of the Champions League semi-finals get underway next Tuesday, when FC Bayern meets Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena in Munich.  Chelsea hosts the other Spanish team FC Barcelona on Wednesday. Arguably Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are the top two teams in Europe.

Munich will most certainly rev up its effort well above the performance displayed in yesterday's game against Borussia Dortmund.  Players like Arjen Robben can't afford to miss penalty shots or empty nets from just a few meters away.  Real Madrid with players like Ronaldo and Mezul Oezil will challenge Bayern's defence and Manuel Neuer.  Leg 1 is a must win for Bayern, without any goals by the Madrid side.  The odds are relatively low for this to happen.

Chelsea will be facing record scorer Messi.  This again appears to be an impossible task for Chelsea.  Not unlike Munich this is a must win, while Chelsea will have to contain Messi.  The odds again are very low.   

Having said that, soccer is a game that is full of surprises.  If the outcome were certain, no game would be necessary.  As a fan, let's hope that the games are both exciting and interesting.  Of course a final with Real Madrid facing FC Barcelona in the final in Munich would be a delight for all soccer fans, regardless of which team they support.  

UEFA Champions League - Semi Finals  Leg 1

17 Apr 2012

FC Bayern Muenchen vs Real Madrid

18 Apr 2012

Chelsea vs Barcelona

UEFA Champions League - Semi Finals Leg 2

24 Ap;r 2012

Barcelona vs Chelsea

25 Apr 2012

Real Madrid vs FC Bayern Muenchen

Champions League Group of 16 Draw

The stage is set for the Champions League Group of 16 competition, which will be played as a knock out.  Teams will play an away and home match during the periods 14-22 February 2012 and 6-14 March 2012. 

Bayern Muenchen should be able to get beyond the Group of 16 with its fortunate draw of FC Basel.  The operative word is "if" though.  After all FC Basel knocked Manchester United out of the competition.  Bayern will have to remain focused, even though they emerged the winner against Basel in the qualification round 3-0 and 2-1. 

Bayer Leverkusen drew FC Barcelona and Leverkusen's fans will see stars like Messi and Xavi and Iniesta.  David Villa will be out with an injury.   Barca is the clear overwhelming favourite.  Regardless, the games need to be played and surprises are always possible. 

Chelsea drew Napoli and all bets are off in that competition, while Arsenal meets AC Milan.   CKSA Moscow drew the other power house Real Madrid and Marseilles is matched with Inter Milan.

The Matches for the Group of 16:

FC Basel vs Bayern Muenchen

Bayer Leverkusen vs FC Barcelona

Olympic Lyon vs APOEL Nicosia

SSC Napoli vs Chelsea

AC Milan vs Arsenal

CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid

Zenit St. Petersburg vs Benefica Lisbon

Olympique Marseilles vs Inter Milan