Marcelo and Marco Asensio handed Real Madrid a 2-1 advantage to take back to the Bernabeu as Real Madrid came from behind in the Allianz Arena to record a third consecutive Champions League away victory over Bayern Munich. Joshua Kimmich put the home side ahead in a first half that forced Jupp Heynckes into two early substitutions as Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng both went off injured.
Positives
Real have now beaten Bayern on six consecutive occasions in Europe and while Zinedine Zidane's side rode their luck they have half a boot in the final despite the home side dominating possession and mustering 10 more attempts on goal.
Negatives
With a little more accuracy, and a little less last-ditch Real defending, the result could have been very different. Bayern will not be heading to Madrid next week looking for a miracle: doing exactly what they did in Bavaria could still be enough to see them through. Dani Carvajal's early exit through injury may provide Zidane with a headache for the return leg.
Manager rating out of 10
5 -- The 4-1-4-1 can be an effective formation but not if you shift your left winger into the middle and your No. 10 out to the left. Zidane rectified his error at half-time but as against Juve, why make it in the first place and leave yourself exposed for 45 minutes? Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels and Franck Ribery all had good chances and only good fortune, Marcelo and Keylor Navas sent Real into the break on level terms.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Keylor Navas, 8 -- Got a hand to Joshua Kimmich's shot but was left horribly exposed with Robert Lewandowski lurking to provide a distraction. Always in the right place at the right time, made three vital saves and commanded his area well at set pieces: Bayern lobbed in 10 corners.
DF Dani Carvajal, 5 -- An early error let Lewandowski in and he struggled to contain Franck Ribery. Will be credited with an assist on Marcelo's goal for a hopeful header in from the right and limped off on 67 minutes after a performance well below his usual standard.
DF Sergio Ramos, 6 -- Made two vital blocks, not that he knew much about either, but was well aware of Kimmich's goal-bound hit late on and got to that as well. On a poor evening for the defence, the captain struggled in general but profited from the luck of the bounce.
DF Raphael Varane, 8 -- Nicked the ball off Muller's foot after Ribery had skinned Carvajal to prevent an almost certain goal and won more balls in the air and made more successful tackles than any defender on either side.
DF Marcelo, 6 -- Bayern targeted the Brazilian as a defensive weak link and he was nowhere to be seen when James Rodriguez slipped the ball to Kimmich. Made amends with a glorious strike for the equaliser, lacing an unstoppable shot past Sven Ulreich that rattled the home side's confidence before the half.
MF Casemiro, 6 -- Tasked with breaking up Bayern's offensive intent single-handedly and threw himself into the job with his usual zeal. A caution ended his evening prematurely but Zidane's formation did him few favours.
MF Toni Kroos, 5 -- The thing with a 4-1-4-1 is that either Kroos or Luka Modric are surplus to requirements. On his return to the Allianz Arena it was the German who found himself unable to influence the game.
MF Luka Modric, 6 -- Came within an inch of profiting from a mistake in the Bayern box and was on hand to clear Lewandowski's downward header with James lurking. This was far from vintage Modric but he put in a tireless shift.
MF Lucas Vazquez, 8 -- Combined with Asensio for the second goal after leaping on a Rafinha blunder in midfield to cap a game that finally should anoint him as Real's starting right winger. Proved his versatility by filling in at right-back when Zidane switched to 4-4-2 after Carvajal's injury.
MF Isco, 5 -- The fall guy for Zidane's botched formation and off at half-time. Isco had 33 touches but most were devoted to hauling down long balls or shielding against a strong Bayern right side.
FW Cristiano Ronaldo, 5 -- Completely isolated, Ronaldo had the same number of touches as half-time as substitute Asensio and didn't manage one effort on target, other than an expert control and shot that was ruled out for handball. His frustration was plain. He can't do it all on his own and Zidane has given up on the BB, leaving the Portuguese to play king on his own.
Substitutes
MF Marco Asensio, 8 -- On for Isco at half-time, hit the second on a lightning break with Vazquez. Two touches from the number 20 made it 2-1 and went some way to embellishing Zidane's tactical acumen.
FW Karim Benzema, 6 -- On for Carvajal, had a good chance on 76 and hit it well enough with Ulrich saving in extremis.
MF Mateo Kovacic, NR -- On for Casemiro, a run from the back could have led to more but Thiago was happy to incur a yellow to make sure it didn't. Deserves better on the basis of his energy and drive.