Real's Xabi Alonso, left, and Bayern's Thomas Mueller challenge for the ball during a Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain on April 23.(AP Photo)
MADRID, April 24 (AP): Karim Benzema's goal gave Real Madrid a 1-0 first-leg victory over title holder Bayern Munich on Wednesday, but the nine-time champions may live to regret the missed chances in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.
Madrid endured plenty of pressure in the first leg match, but scored from a 19th-minute counter-attack. Cristiano Ronaldo found Fabio Coentrao speeding down the left flank and Benzema steered his low cross past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Ronaldo returned from a left leg injury but missed a number of scoring opportunities before eventually giving way to Gareth Bale, who had started on the bench after battling with 'flu.
Bayern pressed for an equalizer in the closing stages, forcing Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas to deny Mario Goetze in the 84th minute while fellow substitute Thomas Mueller had no better luck with his late effort from inside the area. But Madrid should have extended its lead ahead of Tuesday's return leg in Germany, as the team bids to end a three-season semifinal losing streak and reach the final for the first time since winning in 2002.
"If you want to do damage, you have to go for the victory — because 1-0 is not definitive," Madrid defender Sergio Ramos said as he looked ahead to a tough second leg match. "But it's a good result to take to Munich." Atletico Madrid or Chelsea await in the May 24 final in Lisbon, with the pair playing to a scoreless draw in their first-leg match on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola endured his first loss at the Bernabeu as coach after seven previous visits with Barcelona, and at times the encounter took on the appearance of a "clasico" with Madrid looking to capitalize on the break while the visitors controlled play. "Madrid thrives off the counter attack, Madrid is the best team in the world on the counter," Guardiola said. "They get back as fast as they go forward, they're athletes."
Madrid's defense did well to contain Bayern in its area and then break quickly, but the Spanish club squandered its other chances after Benzema broke the deadlock. Ronaldo, who looked uncomfortable at times despite passing a late fitness test, followed up a sharp header at Neuer with a first-time shot from Luka Modric's perfect pass in the 26th minute — only for his effort to fly high over the top with just the Germany 'keeper to beat.
Madrid dug in and did well to clear many of Bayern's best opportunities as it controlled three-quarters of possession in the first half. The German champions found space between the lines and combined some swift passing movements, with Franck Ribery picking out Arjen Robben inside the area in the 39th. But Madrid weathered each buildup before surging forward, with Angel Di Maria gathering a loose ball at the right post only to wildly shoot over Neuer before halftime. After the break, Neuer had to dive low to keep out Ronaldo's angled shot after a Bayern defensive mix-up. Ronaldo forced Neuer into another low save before giving way to Bale, who energized Madrid's attack with his pace. The Welshman was playing for the first time since his stunning winner in Madrid's 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.
"It's been 20 days Cristiano hasn't been 100 percent, so it was a sacrifice for him. It couldn't have been easy for Cristiano tonight," said Ancelotti, who remained unbeaten against Bayern with his fifth win in seven meetings. "But Cristiano and Bale will be 100 percent" for the return, the Italian coach added.
Ronaldo shakes off injury fears to play
MADRID, April 24 (AP): Cristiano Ronaldo shook off his injury fears to make a winning return for Real Madrid against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Ronaldo had missed four games due to a left leg injury before Madrid's 1-0 first-leg victory in the semifinals, where he helped to set up Karim Benzema's winner. The Portugal forward, who was replaced by Gareth Bale in the 73rd-minute, said he "was worried with it being my first game in three weeks."
But he added: "I felt great and I'll be ready for the next games." Ronaldo was involved in the majority of Madrid's goalscoring chances, forcing Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into a number of vital saves. But he also showed the effects of his injury layoff — missing one clear chance in the first half and declining to take a free kick that would normally have been well-suited for one of his thunderous, swerving shots.
"I didn't force anything to play, I felt good, so I played," Ronaldo said. "Cristiano's back to help the team win." Ronaldo said some of the Madrid staff did not want him to play, but would not elaborate.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti said a decision was taken before the opener of the two-legged series. "We have a nice advantage and if we score, we can complicate things for them," said Ronaldo, who has led Madrid to three straight Champions League semifinals but has yet to reach the final with the nine-time champions.
Ancelotti applauded Ronaldo's performance, especially since he played in a more defensive position as Madrid dealt with Bayern's control of possession. Ronaldo remains tied on a Champions League record 14 goals scored this season and will get a chance to set a new record in Tuesday's second leg in Munich.
"We took the decision for him to come out before the end, before the game. We didn't want to risk aggravating the injury," Ancelotti said.
