Real in Control of Semi-Final Tie

Real Madrid hold a slender one goal advantage heading into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final clash with Bayern Munich as a nineteenth minute goal by Karim Benzema proved to be the only thing separating the European giants.

Despite dominating possession for most of the game, Bayern came away from the Bernabeu empty-handed as a solid Madrid defence kept them at bay. The German team failed to properly test Iker Casillas in the Real Madrid goal, save for a Mario Gotze chance in the second half.

At the other end of the pitch Real Madrid may come away disappointed to have just got the one goal after a number of free-flowing counter-attacks were not converted. While Karim Benzema tucked away a neat move, Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Mario also both had decent first half chances to extend the lead which they blazed over the bar.

Bayern quickly settled into a passing rhythm whilst Real struggled to maintain posession in front of their home crowd. Bayern nearly capitalized on this sluggish start when Arjen Robben's deflected shot flew narrowly past the post.

But it was the Spanish side who hit first with vitually their first attack of the game. A classic counter attacking move saw Ronaldo set Coentrao free down the left, his low cross tucked into an empty net by Karim Benzema.

The goal kick-started Real, who nearly had a second moments later when Ronaldo sent his towering header straight down the keepers throat. Di Maria then had a lengthy shot comfortably saved by Manuel Neuer as they hit Bayern with another fast-paced counter-attack.

For all their early possession Bayern failed to create any real chances in the opening half an hour and were fortunate to find themselves just one goal down as Cristiano Ronaldo sent a seemingly simple chance uncharacteristically over the bar.

That wasted opportunity was looking like it could be costly as Bayern ramped up the pressure, the German outfit creating a number of half chances, most of which were flowing through the hugely influential Robben.

Once again though it was Real causing the serious problems as Angel Di Maria found himself with acres of space on the right hand side. However, like Ronaldo, he was unable to capitalise firing his shot high into the stands as his team mates looked on in despair.

Despite leading at the break, Real would have received an inevitable ear-full from Ancelotti as they struggled to maintain possession or convert their chances. And for a brief moment it looked as though they may get a second, Ronaldo testing Neuer with a low shot, palmed away by the German international.

The second half quickly settled into a similar rhythm to the first, Bayern flirting with the Spanish box but unable to create anything dangerous with Real quite happy to soak up the Bayern possession and hit with pace on the counter.

Ancelotti had quite evidently pushed his team higher up the pitch in the second half and this nearly became their undoing, Robben driving through the centre of the park but his shot found the grateful arms of Casillas.

On the touchline Guardiola was the first to crack, replacing the ragged-looking Rafinha with Javi Martinez in an attempt to keep Madrid's advantage to just one. Regardless it was still the Spanish side testing the opposition keeper, Ronaldo capitalising on a quick free kick to call Neuer into action again.

Guardiola acted again, this time bringing on the young German international Mario Gotze as Real Madrid were forced into the substitution of Pepe as the centre-back tweaked his hamstring in an awkward fall. Both managers were keen to mix things up in the final fifteen minutes, as Ronaldo departed for Gareth Bale on his return from injury as well as Thomas Mueller entering the fray for Bastien Schweinsteiger.

As the game drew towards it's conclusion Bayern continued to dominate possession, Mueller flashing a drive round the post. But the big chance came in the eighty-third minute. A mix-up on the right hand side allowed the ball to fall to an unmarked Gotze in the box. The German fired a snapshot but Casillas was equal to it, producing a splendid save to maintain his clean sheet.

There was almost controversy in stoppage time as it seemed as though referee Howard Webb had failed to award Bayern a penalty, but the Englishman made the correct decision as Xabi Alonso nicked the ball ahead of a furious Mueller.

The two sides will meet again next Tuesday for the decisive leg at the Allianz Arena.