Real overpower Bayern in Champions League game

Real Madrid snatched a 2-1 comeback win after Christiano Ronaldo scored twice to beat 10-man Bayern Munich in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

Bayern were unable to defend their opener as Real turned up in the second half with two goals from Ronaldo on Wednesday evening, reports Xinhua news agency.

The visitors from Madrid ensured the first promising chance of the game when Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had to tip Karim Benzema's header on to the bar with 18 minutes played.

Nevertheless, the opening goal of the match was scored at the other end of the pitch as Arturo Vidal headed home a corner kick from Thiago Alcantara to break the deadlock seven minutes later.

Bayern should have doubled the lead before the break but Arturo Vidal was unable to convert a handball penalty in the dying minutes of the first half.

Real Madrid punished Bayern's wastefulness after the restart when Christian Ronaldo restored parity after volleying home a cross from Daniel Carvajal with two minutes into the second half.

To make things worse for the hosts, Javi Martinez received his marching orders with 61 minutes played as he saw his second yellow card of the night to weaken his team.

Real capitalised on their numerical advantage and sealed the deal in the 77th minute when Ronaldo wrapped up his brace after slotting home Marco Asensio' s cross to become the first player who reached 100 goals in UEFA club competition.

The visitors could have reaped a higher victory but Bayern custodian Neuer denied Ronaldo as well as Benzema in the closing period with superb safes.

With the result, Real Madrid are in sight of their seventh straight semi-final, and they ended Bayern's 16-game winning streak on home soil.

"We played a very good first half. The second half is difficult to judge. We have to accept the defeat. Our first half performance gives us confidence for the second leg. We still have 90 minutes to play," Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

--IANS

ajb/vt