A brace from Vinicius Junior earned Real Madrid a 2-2 away draw against Bayern Munich to leave the Champions League semi-final tie finely poised after the first leg.
The Brazilian opened the scoring against the run of play in the first half, collecting Toni Kroos’ defence-splitting pass before cooly slotting past Manuel Neuer.
Bayern, though, turned the game on its head after the break with two second-half goals in the space of four minutes. Leroy Sane smashed home past Andriy Lunin before Harry Kane converted from the spot after Lucas Vazquez hauled down Jamal Musiala inside the box.
But Kim Min-Jae’s late foul on Rodrygo inside the area allowed Vinicius to double his tally for the night from the spot and rescue a late draw for Carlo Ancelotti’s side ahead of the second leg at the Bernabeu.
Relive all the match action from the Champions League semi-final first leg below.
A vintage Champions League display from Real Madrid reveals how Bayern Munich can beat them
A game that had almost everything was never going to leave Real Madrid with nothing. That’s just not how they do things in the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti’s side probably deserved to lose. They were definitely the inferior side. Their English star had a much more challenging night than Bayern Munich’s English star.
And yet it is the 14-time champions that of course leave a big European night that bit more satisfied. Real Madrid have a 2-2 draw and now have the chance to win this semi-final at their own stadium.
It didn’t quite go the way everyone expected from Vinicius Junior’s opening goal given how impressively Bayern Munich rallied. And yet the Germans – and even Harry Kane – will feel they could have scored far more.
That subtle psychology might be crucial for the second leg as Bayern still try to save their season and Madrid only seek to embellish theirs, and their record.
That’s all for now
Well, the first of this week’s Champions League semi-final first legs is in the books and it’s finely poised for the second leg in Madrid.
That’s all from us today – thanks for tuning in and we’ll be back tomorrow for Borussia Dortmund’s vs Paris Saint-Germain. Until then…
FULL-TIME: Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti speaking to TNT Sports: “It was an interesting game. We could play better. We didn’t play our best and we had problems in the first half with a low block, too deep.
“In the second half, we started to put more pressure on and it was much better. We started really well and conceded two goals when our moment was good.
“The game was difficult at 2-1 down but after that, we had the energy and character to equalise and win the second half of the second half which was really good.”
On Bellingham’s substituion: “Bellingham was tired. He had cramps. I needed more energy in the midfield.
On Vinicius’ impact: “Vinicius is starting to understand how it’s important for him to move inside the pitch and not only close to the line. He learned really well how to move.”
More from Kane
On his season so far: It’s been a good season so far but it’s just about the next game and the big game next week in Madrid. Everything we’re fighting for this year is in this competition so we’ve just got to find a way to get it done. It’s going to be tough but we have to go there with full belief.
“I’m here for many years but the expectation at the start of the year was to win trophies. It hasn’t gone our way in the Bundesliga and the [Ferman] Cup but the Champions League is the biggest one of them all so if we can somehow get our hands on that one it would be an amazing season but still a long way to go.”
FULL-TIME: Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid
Kane, speaking to TNT Sports: “A little disappointing. Once we’ve got 2-1 ahead, we had two or three good chances – especially from set plays – but this is a Champions League semi-final. We expected a tough game; Real Madrid are one of the best teams in Europe and they can punish you with one or two actions like they did today.
“We’re disappointed we didn’t come away with the win but it’s still all to play for next week. If we play like we did in large spells today we can have chances next week and we’ve just got to be able to take them.”
On Bellingham’s message as he went to take the penalty: “To be honest I don’t know what he was saying. I saw him there mumbling something but I’ll have to ask him what he actually said. Once I’m in that moment, I’m in my zone and trying to block everything out. I’m sure he was trying to put me off but thankfully it was okay for me.”
FULL-TIME: Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid
Another milestone for Harry Kane, whose goal today means he has been directly involved in 11 goals in the Champions League this season (eight goals, three assists); the most ever by an English player in a single campaign in the competition.
Let’s hear from him now…
FULL-TIME: Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid
Madrid forward Rodrygo speaking to Movistar: “If we couldn’t win, we were determined not to lose. Given what went on tonight, a draw’s a good result. We know the Champions League. We’re accustomed to matches like this.
“I believe that teams think they’ve killed us off and that’s when we are at our most dangerous. It was a spell of the match when we weren’t actually all that terrific but we got the equaliser.”
FULL-TIME: Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid
Vinicius Jr., speaking to UEFA: “We always play to win, want to win but we know what the Champions League is like – you can’t gift the ball away, you can’t concede goals because there will always be top rivals to take advantage.
“Right now, after this result, we need to keep our heads clear, be content with the position we are in and rest up as much as possible before the second leg.”
FULL-TIME: Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid
More from Hoddle, speaking on TNT Sports: “I don’t see either side with a clean sheet in the second leg, I think both sides will score which makes it intriguing. It is going to be about which side can take their chances.
“Tonight there were four big mistakes, and the goals were scored that way. In the second leg, it might be a bit of inspiration, a fantastic goal that comes from somewhere.”
“Real Madrid are probably the favourites because they are back at home, but don’t count this Bayern side out. You saw how they performed against Arsenal away from home, they have legs and could hit on the counter again.”
FULL-TIME: Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid
Since the start of the 2021-22 campaign, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has been directly involved in more goals in the Champions League than any other player (31 – 16 goals, 15 assists).
Source: independent.co.uk