Bayern hold Champions League advantage
Bayern Munich hold the advantage after the Bundesliga side beat Real Madrid 2-1 in their Champions League semi-final first-leg at the Allianz Arena.
A last-gasp goal from striker Mario Gomez was enough for Bayern to obtain the upper hand after a draw seemed the likely outcome with the clock ticking down. The Germans had taken the lead on 17 minutes when Franck Ribery fired home after the ball had dropped invitingly for him following a corner, only for Mesut Ozil to equalise eight minutes after the break on his return to his homeland, tapping in from close range after Cristiano Ronaldo had turned the ball back at the far post.
Real had never beaten Bayern in nine previous attempts in Germany and the hosts re-established their supremacy in the 90th minute when Philipp Lahm got free on the right and his low cross was turned in by a sliding Gomez to give Jupp Heynckes’ men a crucial winner. The Bayern boss believed his side was full value for the victory.
“My players showed what I had demanded from them: lust and hunger for success,” he he told a post-match Press conference. “I think we more than deserved the win because we played cleverly and intelligently.
“We don't need any crazy result in the return leg as we can win with a normal result and go through. I think my team can respond to this game with our fans behind us.”
Real Madrid midfielder Ozil is confident his team can mount a comeback in the second leg and that there is still all to play for.
“I think we will win the return leg,” insisted the German international.”We are a touch stronger at home. We believe in our strength and I am convinced we will go through. We will be coming back to Munich again (for the final)."
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