Real Madrid are used to making other teams suffer but they withstood waves of pressure from Bayern Munich to win their Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday 2-1 and take a confident step towards reaching the final for a third year in a row.
At the Allianz Arena, Zinedine Zidane’s side had only 39.7 per cent possession — their second lowest after the 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in December — while Bayern had 17 shots on goal to Real’s seven.
But in contrast to Bayern’s profligacy, the 12-time European champions made their few attempts count, hitting the target four times and scoring twice.
“We suffered a lot but the result is important,” said Real coach Zidane.
“You have to suffer, you cannot play in the Champions League and not suffer. But we are happy because we knew how to suffer without the ball.”
Bayern defender Joshua Kimmich gave the home side the lead with the help of unconvincing goalkeeping from Real’s Keylor Navas and Franck Ribery missed a chance to double the lead before Marcelo equalised just before halftime.
Substitute Marco Asensio pulled Real in front early in the second half by starting and finishing a sweeping counterattack.
“The game had the circumstances that we went behind and unconsciously we sat back a bit and suffered a little and they obviously wanted to go all out and try to win the game,” Real captain Sergio Ramos said.
“We took advantage of that, we got the equaliser, we defended very well and then we killed them on a counterattack.
“We need to remember nights like this and learn because that’s what makes this team great.”
Spanish newspaper AS called the result “a victory through suffering” and said Real “survived Bayern’s siege.”
Barcelona-based daily Mundo Deportivo praised through gritted teeth Real’s knack of winning games without being at their best.
“Just like always,” was their headline, claiming “Madrid rode their luck against an imprecise Bayern.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, speaking on BT Sport, said: “Real know how to get job done. There's a ruggedness about them. And they have individuals who can turn games in an instant.”
As well as benefiting from Bayern’s profligacy, Real also showed their versatility when winger Lucas Vazquez switched to right back to cover for Dani Carvajal who was forced off injured. Asensio also came on to replace injured Isco.
“Independently of how well the team played you have to hand it to Lucas Vazquez who played with all his spirit,” Ramos added.
“He held his own against Ribery, who is one of the best players in the world. It is moments like that which make this team even greater.”
Ramos was not concerned by the manner of Real’s victory and wore it as a badge of pride in a post on Instagram, posting a picture of himself clenching his fist with the message: “Know how to suffer. Know how to win. Know how to be Real Madrid.”
Meanwhile, Zidane says his team must heed the lessons from their Juventus scare in order to finish off Bayern in next Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final, return leg.
Having suffered an almighty scare at home in the quarter-finals, when Juventus won 3-1 in Madrid after Real had beaten them 3-0 in Turin, Zidane says nothing is decided despite Real’s slender advantage.
“We will have to fight in the second leg, nothing is decided, that showed in the second leg against Juventus,” said Zidane.
“We will have to suffer again and face Bayern in a different way at home, because if we don’t, we could have a bad result next week,” he warned.
“We can be happy with the result, we had difficulties at the start of the match in imposing our game.
“It’s not easy to come and win here, we can do better, but we’re happy with the result.”
Zidane pulled a surprise before kick-off by dropping Gareth Bale, but insisted he does not have a problem with the Welshman.
“I have a lot of quality players here, he has been playing well and I know I can count on Gareth Bale the same way I do those others who also didn’t play,” said Zidane.
Bayern captain Thomas Mueller admits the result does them no favours.
“Madrid is Madrid, we saw their how coolly they took their chances,” said Mueller.
“We need another mentality in front of goal, which could have been very different in my opinion.” Agencies