Karim Benzema's first-half strike proved to
be the difference as Real Madrid secured a
1-0 win in the first leg of their UEFA
Champions League semi-final tie with
Bayern Munich.
The visitors dominated possession in the
early stages without really creating
anything of note in front of goal and it was
Madrid who took the lead after a swift
counter-attack down the left.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who had recovered from
a hamstring injury to return to the side,
fed Fabio Coentrao inside the area and the
full-back was able to cut it across goal
where Benzema was waiting to slot it into
an empty net with ease.
Bayern soon regained their rhythm and
had their hosts pegged back, but it was
again Carlo Ancelotti's side who had the
better sights of goal as Ronaldo and Angel
Di Maria both blazed over the bar from
good positions.
After the break, Ronaldo twice forced
Manuel Neuer into making smart saves,
while Philipp Lahm could only poke the ball
into the side-netting after bursting into the
area.
Thomas Muller saw his effort deflected
inches wide of the post after Raphael
Varane's block, and Mario Gotze was
denied by a smart save from Iker Casillas
as the hosts stood firm to take a 1-0
advantage to the Allianz Arena on Tuesday,
April 29.
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