Ozil's goal should be a comfort. According to the old treaties of the European Cup, losing by the minimum is not a bad result if you scored a goal on the road. However, what was good in years of hardship, now looks poor. This Real Madrid is a thoroughbred programmed to jump over obstacles without getting dirty. And could do it. Whites could jump over the match and come out unscathed, with a minimum punishment of a tie. But the team did not care about the legend. After the defeat is hard to imagine how will be the reaction of the team and coach in the second leg. How will be the fallout after the fifth defeat in 52 matches this season. A lot of Bernabeu will be necessary on next Wednesday.
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| Mario Gomez scored the last goal of the match |
Coentrao played as left back in the starting eleven instead of Marcelo. Real Madrid dominated in the opening minutes while the locals looked to counterattack through Ribery and Robben. Benzema had a chance early on and forced Neuer to concede a corner kick (7'). Bayern started to attack more and eventually netted the opener from a Kroos corner-kick that was deflected by Badstuber and finished off by Ribery inside the box (16').
It took a while for Real to recover, but they started having chances some minutes later. Ramos nearly scored from an Alonso free-kick (35') and Neuer easily grabbed a Benzema shot (39'). Casillas was forced to make an impressive save from a Gomez strike minutes later and the Germans kept trying to surprise Real's defence by sending the ball to their wingers.
It took Real Madrid seven minutes after half-time to net a much needed equaliser: Ronaldo missed a shot against Neuer; the ball fell at Ozil's feet, who passed it to Benzema; the French striker crossed it into the box; and Ronaldo gently ceded it to Ozil for him to score (52').
Bayern suffered form the strike, but they took solace in their pride to make things hard for Madrid. They had more control of the ball but never posed any clear danger on Casillas' goal. Nevertheless, Real had given them some ground after the equaliser looking for swift counterattacks, but Munchen were driven and forced several corner kicks.
Mourinho replaced Ozil with Marcelo on the 68-minute mark and Bayern kept looking for a strike, but Gomez wasn't too inspired. The locals looked increasingly tired and Real Madrid were managing to keep them in check. Granero came on for Di Maria (78') looking to have more control on the ball, while Bayern now tried to score from high balls that Pepe managed to clear easily.
Higuain came on for Benzema on the 83-minute mark. Casillas easily grabbed a Gomez header two minutes later, but the striker finished off a Lahm cross in the 89th minute that gave victory to the locals.
It was said by Hoeness and he was right. Real Madrid, in a league of a single opponent, just plays half a dozen big games per season. And almost always against the same opponents. Team lacks real fire in different situations. Few are the times the Whites need to hasten the final minutes of a match, few strikers are able to fight with Pepe and Sergio Ramos until the last minute. Few players are as Mario Gomez.
Summary
Stadium: Allianz Arena
Attendance: 70,000
Goals: 1-0, m. 16: Ribery. 1-1, m. 52: Özil. 2-1, m. 89: Mario Gomez.
