Karim Benzema's goal gives Real Madrid victory over Bayern Munich in Champions League

Karim Benzema scored the only goal in the game

A disciplined display from nine-time European Champions Real Madrid saw them emerge victorious in their Semi-Final first leg clash against defending champions Bayern Munich. A solitary goal from Real’s French forward Karim Benzema in the 19th minute of the game was enough to see Los Blancos emerge victorious in the clash between the two big power houses of European football.

It was the Germans however; who settled into the game more quickly and dictated the pace early on. Madrid on the other hand mewed like cats rather than roaring like lions on their home turf as they looked disorganized in the opening minutes and taken aback by the ferocity of the pace with which the Bavarians started the game. This lead to Real were committing turnovers left, right and centre only to pile on more pressure on themselves. Waves after wave of Bayern attack greeted the Real back line as Pep Guardiols’s team went in search of the killer punch.

Madrid’s tenacity however paid off a few minutes later. In a swift counter-attacking move, Ronaldo played a delightful ball in to the path of fellow Portuguese international Coentrao’s path on the left, who obliged with a inch perfect low cross into the box to find the gleeful Karim Benzema. The Frenchman was “man on the spot” to tap the ball home, sending the Bernabeu into raptures. The goal from the Copa Del Rey winners took the German champions totally by surprise; coming completely against the run of play.

Real’s nerves seemed to calm down soon after the goal and they themselves were guilty of missing a couple of guilt edged opportunities later on in the first half. First Cristiano Ronaldo in the 26th minute and then Angel Di Maria in the 41st minute spurned golden opportunities to put Real further in front when they had only the goal-keeper to beat.

The second half saw a rugged rear-guard display from Carlo Ancelotti’s men as they restricted Bayern to only one real chance at their goal. That chance fell to substitute Mario Gotze in the 84th minute who was able to get on the end of a Thomas Muller cutback. The German international set himself for a valley with his first touch in the Real penalty area and fired away. Iker Cassillas was however not to be denied his moment of glory as his instinctive reaction save to his right denied the Germans their coveted equaliser.

The victory puts Real in the driver’s seat going into the second leg of the semi-final. Though it as only a one goal victory, Ronaldo and co. prevented the Germans from scoring the all so important away goal which could become the deciding factor in the tie.

The Teams

Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe(73’-Varane), Ramos, Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Modric; Di María, Isco(82’-Illarramendi), C.Ronaldo(73’-Bale); Benzema.

Bayern: Neuer; Rafinha, Dante, Boateng, Alaba; Lahm, Schweinsteiger(74’-Muller), Kroos; Ribery(71’-Gotze), Robben, Manduzkic.