Write Real Madrid off at your own peril as Los Blancos show again why they're built for Champions League glory
CBSN
German giants face massive task in Spain next week after Champions League semifinal first leg draw
Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League semifinal with Bayern Munich is going more or less according to a well-known script so far with the Spanish giants in the driving seat after a 2-2 draw at Allianz Arena on Tuesday set up next week's return leg perfectly for Los Blancos. Carlo Ancelotti's side still has work to do to see off Thomas Tuchel's Germans in this battle between two European giants but the Italian tactician's job has been made easier by the level aggregate score having been 2-1 down after leading 1-0 for most of the second half. Vinicius Junior scored once in each half in Bavaria either side of a superb Leroy Sane strike and a confident Harry Kane penalty to ensure that Real are still in the tie despite not always being at their best this midweek.
Granted, one of Bayern's goals came from the spot, but so too did one of the La Liga leaders' strikes and the hosts did have other chances to score as Tuchel threatened another one of his famous continental masterclasses. It was not to be and Real held on for a draw which Bayern will not be too disappointed about but it also makes the task so much harder for the deposed Bundesliga dominators who must now face the European masters in their Santiago Bernabeu home. Not just that, but Los Merengues' supporters are all too familiar with this scenario which usually ends with Ancelotti's men advancing to the next round which in this case will be the final.
We look at why you write Real off at your peril in these situations where nobody does it better than the Spaniards: