UEFA Champions League: Bayern fire first salvo over Real Madrid with win in pulsating Bernabeu clash

The winners of the two-legged tie will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool in the semifinal.

Bundelsiga giants Bayern Munich took control of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday (April 7) with a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, earning a slender first-leg advantage after a ⁠high-tempo contest in the Spanish capital.

Vincent Kompany's side struck just before half-time when Serge Gnabry slipped a precise pass through for Luis ⁠Diaz, who beat the offside trap and fired low past keeper Andriy Lunin in the ‌41st minute.

Bayern doubled their lead seconds after the ​restart as Michael Olise squared for Harry Kane to finish neatly from the edge of the box following a swift counter-attack.

Real improved after the hour and Kylian Mbappe pulled one back in the 74th minute, turning in Trent Alexander-Arnold's low cross at the far post.

Manuel Neuer then denied Mbappe and Vinicius Jr with a series of sharp saves as the hosts pressed for an equaliser that ​never came, as Bayern headed home with ⁠a slender yet significant advantage.

The winners of the two-legged tie will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool, who play their first leg on Wednesday, in the semi-finals.

"We came out for the second half and conceded a goal straight away. Both goals we conceded were gifts. Both sides had plenty of chances but Bayern’s best player today was ⁠Neuer. In the end, ‌that’s how it goes," Real Madrid defender Antonio Ruediger was quoted as saying by Movistar Plus.

In the other match of the night, Arsenal substitute Kai Havertz scored a ​stoppage-time goal to snatch a 1-0 win at Sporting.

(With inputs from agencies).