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Real Madrid takes victory at Bayern Munich in scrappy affair

CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP / Getty

Wednesday's first leg probably fell below expectations, with wayward passes and defensive gaffes that don't normally belong in a Champions League semi-final, but Zinedine Zidane's side got the job done.

Real Madrid took a 2-1 victory in the opening tussle against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, profiting from Marcelo and Marco Asensio's efforts after Joshua Kimmich deservedly opened the scoring for the host.

Rafinha will be pilloried by some for his error leading to Asensio's winner. Real Madrid had just repelled a Bayern Munich corner, but rather than returning the ball to the danger zone, the 32-year-old dallied. His late, panicked pass was intercepted by Asensio 12 yards short of the halfway line, and he then surged upfield while exchanging passes with Lucas Vazquez before burying the ball past Sven Ulreich.

Bayern Munich fans may regard the midweek skirmish as a missed opportunity. The Bavarians were the best side in the opening stanza but, aside from Kimmich catching out Keylor Navas from an acute angle, failed to convert a few half-chances. They were also unfortunate to be stripped of the services of Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng, both of whom were withdrawn through injury.

Marcelo equalised a minute before the break with a powerful, controlled hit into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. The leveller prompted a revision of Jupp Heynckes' team talk at the interval, and Bayern Munich was behind just 12 minutes after the restart.

The reverse fixture will be contested at the Santiago Bernabeu next Tuesday, and the visitor may refer to tapes of Juventus' near-comeback in the Spanish capital during the competition's previous round when drawing up tactical designs for that clash.

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