Soccer

Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid 2017 live blog: Scores and highlights from Champions League quarterfinal

Can Bayern Munich knock off Real Madrid without their superstar striker? Follow along with their Champions League quarterfinal.

by Kim McCauley

Updated Apr 12, 2017, 8:40 PM UTC

PSV Eindhoven v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League

Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Final score — Bayern Munich 1-2 Real Madrid

The Bavarians are a great team that can win any game, anywhere, but they’ll have a tough time coming back from this. Here’s a recap of the Champions League quarterfinal between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and what we learned.

90’ — Sergio Ramos thinks he has a third goal for Madrid, but it’s called back for offside.

83’ — Real Madrid wants an extra passer to kill off the game, so James Rodriguez enters, replacing Karim Benzema.

80’ — Marcelo has a shot from 12 yards but curls the ball just wide. After his miss, Bayern takes off Thomas Müller, subbing on Kingsley Coman.

77’ — GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-2 Real Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo does it again. Poor Neuer can’t get any help from his teammates. Asensio plays a perfect cross into the center of the box and Ronaldop pokes it between Neuer’s legs.

75’ — Neuer again! Amazing save on Ronaldo from close range. He stops a follow-up by Asensio too. Eight saves on the night for him.

73’ — Manuel Neuer is keeping Bayern in this game. Incredible kick save on Benzema.

66’ — Another Bayern sub that was likely influenced by the red card. With fewer players on the pitch, Carlo Ancelotti wants the younger, faster Douglas Costa on for Franck Ribery.

64’ — Bayern has to make the difficult decision to sacrifice a midfielder. Xabi Alonso comes out for Juan Bernat, and David Alaba slides over to central defense.

61’ — RED CARD! Javi Martinez picks up two yellow cards in less than five minutes, and Bayern has to finish this game down to 10 men. Late challenge on Ronaldo, and the correct decision by the referee.

58’ — Substitution for Madrid, and it’s the closest thing to a like-for-like switch they can make. Marco Asensio is on for Bale, who is nursing a calf injury. He could have continued if he wanted but Madrid aren’t taking any chances.

55’ — Another incredible save by Neuer! Gareth Bale thought he’d scored when he powered a header at goal off a ball from Modrić, but Bayern’s keeper was up to the task.

47’ — GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-1 Real Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo comes up huge with an away goal for Los Merengues just 90 seconds into the second half. He finds a bit of space near the penalty spot and gets on the end of a cross by Dani Carvajal. Philipp Lahm and Javi Martinez couldn’t figure out who was supposed to be defending arguably the best goal-scorer of all time.

46’ — And we’re back, second half kickoff. No substitutions, which is a bit surprising given Casemiro’s fitness concerns and Real Madrid’s struggles at relieving pressure.

HALFTIME — Bayern Munich 1-0 Real Madrid.

Zinedine Zidane has some work to do at halftime. Even though the penalty was soft, Bayern was by far the better side in the first half and deserves their lead. Vidal and Thiago’s pressing and passing have been excellent, and Los Merengues have no answer for them at the moment.

45’ — PENALTY! Dani Carvajal commits a handball on a shot by Franck Ribery. The referee hesitates, but after looking at his assistant, gives the spot kick.

It doesn’t look like a great call. The ball got much more of Carvajal’s shoulder than his upper arm. Vidal steps up to take, and... ball don’t lie! Justice for Madrid as Vidal puts his attempt well over the crossbar.

42’ — Cristiano Ronaldo takes a fierce rip from 20 yards that might have beaten some mediocre keepers, but Manuel Neuer is in perfect position to swat the ball away.

40’ — Bayern so close to a second! Madrid does the right thing against Arjen Robben, forcing him to cross with his right foot, but the Dutchman hits a good one. Vidal nearly heads in his second goal, but his shot drifts just wide.

35’ — Ouch, it’s been a really rough day for Casemiro. He’s down again, this time after a challenge with Arturo Vidal. He looks even more hurt than last time, but he waves off the stretcher. He really can’t walk well and probably needs to be substituted.

31’ — Casemiro is hurt in a clash with Thiago and receives treatment. He’s grimacing as he walks off the pitch, but he’s going to try to keep playing.

26’ — GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-0 Real Madrid. It’s Arturo Vidal, who blasts a header into the back of the net off Thiago’s cross. Bad defending by Nacho, and Keylor Navas never had a chance. Incredible pace on that header.

23’ — David Alaba shoots over the bar at the end of a long spell of play in the Madrid half. Arturo Vidal and Thiago Alcantara are dominating at the moment, Real Madrid needs more from their central midfielders. They’re not winning the ball or getting it to the forwards.

18’ — Best chance yet from Karim Benzema! Toni Kroos crosses, Benzema headers, and he’s unlucky not to score. Manuel Neuer BARELY does enough to tip it onto the crossbar.

16’ — Free kick for Cristiano Ronaldo in a dangerous area... and he launches it into outer space. Big cheer from the Bayern ultras.

12’ — The biggest strength for both of these teams might be midfielders who keep the ball, and it’s showing. This is a very intelligent and high-skill match, but perhaps not one that’s going to feature any chaotic attacking. Both teams feeing each other out right now.

5’ — Bayern putting all the pressure on early. They’ve already won three corners. Nacho, Madrid’s fourth-choice center back, is looking a little bit shaky.

1’ — Kickoff! Keep an eye on Thomas Müller up top for Bayern during this game. With Robert Lewandowski out and Müller in poor form, the German star is under a lot of pressure to up his game in this match.

The marquee tie of the Champions League quarterfinals gets underway on Wednesday, with Real Madrid traveling to Germany to face Bayern Munich. These are the two most historically successful clubs in European soccer, and two of the big favorites to lift this season’s European title.

But the Bavarians will be playing shorthanded. Just before the game, news came down that star striker Robert Lewandowski has not recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered over the weekend and will be unable to play. He’s been replaced by Thomas Müller, who excelled during the Pep Guardiola years but has struggled this season.

They’ll be facing off against a Real Madrid squad that has most of their first choice team intact. The BBC is starting up top together, while Toni Kroos and Luka Modric sit ahead of Casemiro. The only spot with a backup is central defense — Nacho will partner Sergio Ramos instead of Pepe or Raphael Varane.

This is a live blog, and you’ll see updates above constantly as the match unfolds.