Ronaldo hits 100th European goal as Real win at Bayern …Griezmann gives Atletico slender lead over Leicester City
MUNICH, Germany (AFP) — Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 100th European goal on Wednesday to give holders Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback win at 10-man Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final, first-leg.
Arturo Vidal headed Bayern into a first-half lead, but then skied a penalty attempt on the stroke of half-time before Ronaldo volleyed the defending champions’ level.
Bayern played the last half an hour a man down after centre back Javi Martinez was sent off for two fouls on Ronaldo within three minutes of each other.
Four-time world player of the year Ronaldo then slotted in the winner between goalkeeper Manuel Neuer’s legs for the winner 13 minutes from time.
Security was tight at the Allianz Arena in the wake of Tuesday’s attacks on the Borussia Dortmund team bus and both teams arrived with a heavy police escort.
There was a large police presence and inside the stadium there was polite applause before kick-off when the announcer made reference to Dortmund’s ordeal in the preceeding 24 hours.
Bayern suffered a blow before kick-off when top scorer Robert Lewandowski, who has netted 38 goals this season, dropped out with a bruised shoulder and Thomas Müller deputised as striker.
Bayern were also missing injured Germany defender Mats Hummels against Real’s formidable BBC attack —Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo.
Bayern went ahead on 25 minutes when playmaker Thiago Alcantara swung in a corner from the right, which Vidal powered through Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas’s hands.
The Chile midfielder could have added a second when he headed Arjen Robben’s cross wide of the post soon after.
Real made a poor start, rarely threatening Germany’s goalkeeper Neuer, back after minor foot surgery a fortnight ago.
A strong drive from Ronaldo on 41 minutes, which Neuer blocked having palmed a Benzema header onto the woodwork with 18 minutes played, were their best first-half chances.
Vidal could have finished with a first-half hat-trick when he stepped up to take a penalty after Dani Carvajal’s handball from a Franck Ribery shot.
However, the Chilean smashed the spot kick high over the crossbar.
It was a miss Bayern were soon to regret.
Real were level two minutes after the break when Carvajal found space on the right and fired in a cross which Ronaldo volleyed past Neuer.
Bale, who has laboured with an ankle injury recently, came off on 58 minutes and Real raised the tempo after he trudged off.
Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann’s penalty handed Atletico Madrid a slender 1-0 advantage over Leicester City in Madrid.
In a game of very few chances, Griezmann proved decisive as it was he who also won the penalty with a lung-busting run from well inside his own half before being brought down by Marc Albrighton midway through the first half.
The French international put his previous penalty demons behind him to convert from the spot and put Atletico in the driving seat for a third semi-final in four seasons.
However, Leicester still have reason to believe their dream run on their first appearance in the Champions League can continue when the sides meet again on April 18.
The behaviour of Leicester’s travelling fans was in the spotlight after 10 were arrested in violent clashes with police on Tuesday night and Wednesday before kick-off.
However, the 3,000 travelling supporters high in the rafters of the Calderon were largely silenced by Atletico’s dominance of the match.
Unusually for Diego Simeone’s men, they were in almost complete control of possession, but largely limited to shots from long range.
Koke came closest from distance when he drilled an effort off the outside of the post after just five minutes.
Yannick Carrasco then slashed wildly at a volley when well-placed at the back post.
Griezmann and Saul Niguez were next to take aim from outside the box, but both failed to find the target with powerful drives that flew over Kasper Schmeichel’s goal.
Leicester had been enjoying their best spell of the half when suddenly they were caught short-handed at the back on 27 minutes.
Griezmann collected the ball outside his own area and ran to just inside the Leicester box before being crudely barged over by Albrighton.
Schmeichel had saved a penalty in each of Leicester’s two legs against Sevilla in the last 16 and Griezmann had missed his last four for Atletico, including in last season’s Champions League final.
However, Griezmann sent the Dane the wrong way from the spot to register his 24th goal of the season.
Both sides seemed content to settle the tie at the King Power in six days’ time with Atletico holding a 1-0 advantage after the break.
Atletico still had the better of what few chances there were.