Bayern refuse to buckle

FC Bayern München 2-1 Real Madrid CF
Two goals in six minutes completed a remarkable late turnaround as FC Bayern München recovered to defeat Real Madrid CF 2-1 in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Olympiastadion.

Spanish side sparkle
Cameroon wing-back Geremi had put Madrid ahead in the eleventh minute as the Spanish side sparkled early on in Munich, and once Steffen Effenberg had missed a penalty for the hosts 18 minutes from time the game looked finished. But the Bayern captain made amends by powering in an equaliser ten minutes later and substitute Claudio Pizarro completed the recovery with an 88th-minute winner.

Surprise inclusion
Geremi, making only his third start this year, was a surprise inclusion ahead of Fernando Morientes for Madrid. Two minutes after directing a flying header wide of the target, however, he proved coach Vicente del Bosque correct with the opening goal, cutting inside from the right before unleashing a left-foot drive which bounced past Oliver Kahn.

Elber frustrated
As the Madrid offside trap continually frustrated Bayern striker Giovane Elber, playmaker Zinedine Zidane ran the show in midfield. The Frenchman's wizardry was a joy to watch as he combined well with both Santiago Solari and the industrious Claude Makelele.

Bayern force their way back
But for all their beautiful football, Madrid failed to create many chances and Bayern slowly forced their way into the game. Elber went close either side of half-time, both times denied by César Sánchez in the Madrid goal, and eventually resilient Bayern gained the upper hand.

Kuffour heads wide
On 68 minutes, Effenberg floated in a free-kick from the right and Samuel Kuffour's header flashed just wide of the far post. Two minutes later Bixente Lizarazu outpaced Michel Salgado and whipped in a high cross which Elber crashed against the Madrid crossbar with a thunderous header - it was all Bayern.

Penalty miss
A further two minutes later, home substitute Hasan Salihamidzic was sent tumbling by Pavon Barahona's outstretched leg in the area and Effenberg was given the chance to equalise from the spot. The Bayern captain tried to pass the penalty wide to César's left but the keeper guessed correctly to maintain Madrid's lead.

Shaky Madrid
Despite the miss it was a lead that would not last. With Madrid visibly shaken at the back, Effenberg played a one-two with Elber before cracking the ball home from eight metres out and Bayern were well and truly in control. It took just six minutes for them to find a winning goal, a long ball out of defence allowing Pizarro to nip in and clip the ball past César, send the home fans wild and give the German side a precious advantage ahead of next Wednesday's second leg in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.