Harry Kane scored one and assisted another as Bayern Munich defeated Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
The UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg tie lived up to the pre-match hype, and it was the visitors who overwhelmed and dominated Los Merengues in this heavyweight battle decided by the clinical English striker.
Both sides created chances to take the lead, with efforts by both Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe saved by Manuel Nueur, while the home side showed jitters in defence but the Serge Gnabry could not capitalize for the visitors from multiple chances.
The breakthrough eventually came four minutes from the break when Luis Diaz collected Kane’s through ball and slotted into the bottom corner for Bayern to take a one-nil lead into the break.
Vincent Kompany’s well-drilled side doubled their lead in the first minute of the second period, capitalizing on a midfield interception to find Kane who dispatched his low strike beyond Andriy Lunin for 2-0 from the edge of the area. Real Madrid improved afterwards and missed another set of chances, before Mbappe converted Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low cross at the back post to reduce the deficit on 74 minutes.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side could not find the equalizer and Bayern failed to extend their lead despite creating several chances on the counter and the Bavarians take a 2-1 first leg win as lead into the second leg in Germany.
In Portugal, Arsenal defeated Sporting Lisbon via Kai Havertz’s composed finished in the 91st minute for a 1-0 win, and the Gunners take the advantage into the second leg in London.