Vinicius Junior was the standout player as Real Madrid secured a draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
The Brazilian capitalized on two mistakes from Bayern’s defender Kim Min-jae, first by outpacing him and firing a shot past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, and later by converting a penalty after Kim fouled Rodrygo.
England’s captain Harry Kane had earlier scored from the penalty spot, putting the ball past Andriy Lunin after Jamal Musiala was brought down by Lucas Vazquez.
Shortly before Kane’s penalty, Leroy Sane had leveled the score with a powerful shot inside the near post, neutralizing Vinicius’ initial goal.
The match saw shifts in momentum, with Bayern initially failing to capitalize on their early dominance before Vinicius exploited a smart pass from Toni Kroos to break through.
Bayern, who had six shots and over 60% possession in the first 20 minutes with prime opportunities for Sane and Kane, found themselves trailing unexpectedly.
A decisive four-minute spell in the second half saw Bayern regain control and put Real under significant pressure, though they were unable to further their lead.
A critical error by Kim Min-jae in the 83rd minute, a needless pull on Rodrygo’s shirt, allowed Real Madrid to level the match. The teams will head to the Bernabeu Stadium for the second leg with Real Madrid holding the home advantage.
Tie in the balance as Bayern miss chances
With Manchester City, the defending champions, eliminated by Real in the quarter-finals, both teams see a clear path to winning the competition.
Bayern Munich, recently halted by Bayer Leverkusen after 11 consecutive Bundesliga titles, faces additional pressure with the impending departure of manager Thomas Tuchel this summer. Amid rumors of his potential replacement, Tuchel’s team took early control, dominating possession at the Allianz Arena and creating numerous opportunities.
Sane was thwarted by goalkeeper Lunin, and Kane’s daring lob from midfield nearly found the net. Despite Bayern’s early pressure, Real struck first with a brilliantly executed play—Kroos’s precise pass and Vinicius’ cool finish marking his third consecutive goal in a Champions League semi-final.
In the second half, Bayern responded with renewed vigor, with Kane and Sane continuing to pose threats and Musiala dazzling with his agility and speed on the left.
Both sides had chances to score, with Kroos and Vinicius forcing notable saves from Manuel Neuer, and England’s defender Eric Dier missing opportunities from set pieces.
Kane, setting a record for most goal involvements by an English player in a single Champions League season with eight goals and three assists, nearly added another in the second half.
While Bayern had opportunities to increase their lead, it was Vinicius who ultimately made a decisive impact from the penalty spot, leaving the series finely poised.
Player of the match:
Vinícius Júnior