Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo wins it in extra time

Real Madrid are through into the Champions League’s final four, having followed up last week’s 2-1 win away at Bayern Munich with a 4-2 victory in the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. However, it was a game mired in controversy, with the hosts having been the benefactors of a series of poor decisions from the match officials — including two missed offside calls as Cristiano Ronaldo netted yet another hat trick.

Madrid had reason to fear the Bayern threat in the first few minutes, with only a heroic Marcelo block preventing Thiago from burying a Franck Ribéry shot in the back of the net. The follow-up fell kindly for Arjen Robben, though the Dutchman’s effort rippled the side netting. It set the tone for a series of early Bavarian raids, but they failed to bear fruit.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a dramatic go-ahead goal against Bayern Munich on Tuesday and then completed a hat trick minutes later. But there’s one problem with both goals: The Real Madrid star was clearly offside. Twice.

Here’s the first goal:

The UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid has featured some of the most exciting soccer seen anywhere in the world this season, so neutral fans will be thrilled about it going to extra time. After an action-packed second half, the two teams ended up tied 3-3 on aggregate with the same number of away goals, necessitating extra time.

Bayern came into the second leg trailing and got back into the tie thanks to a penalty. Arjen Robben drew it, then Robert Lewandowski converted from the penalty spot.

Bayern Munich have a huge task heading into today’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Real Madrid, having been defeated 2-1 by the Spanish side at the Allianz Arena a week ago. However, Carlo Ancelotti is certainly boosted by the return of star striker Robert Lewandowski, who missed the first leg with a shoulder injury.

He’s given the nod up top in place of Thomas Müller, while Jérôme Boateng fills the void left by the suspended Javi Martínez in the heart of defense. Bayern are otherwise unchanged from their home defeat.

Bayern Munich has a serious mountain to climb in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie against Real Madrid on Tuesday. They lost 2-1 at home in the first leg, but they’ll like the way their lineup matches up against Madrid’s a little better this time around.

Robert Lewandowski missed that match, but he was back in full training on Monday. He’ll almost certainly start. Gareth Bale, meanwhile, is out with a knock. He’s expected to play in El Clásico this weekend, but Madrid’s attack might suffer without him on Tuesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo now has 100 career goals in European competitions, and he reached that milestone in impressive fashion against Bayern Munich.

Real Madrid had a rough first half against Bayern, but they’ll be feeling great about their Champions League tie after Ronaldo did this.

It’s time for a clash of the heavyweights in the Champions League quarterfinal round, with Bayern Munich hosting Real Madrid in a massive match. But Bayern are going into this match without a major part of their squad, and that’s going to make things trickier than Carlo Ancelotti wanted them to be.

Bayern will be without Robert Lewandowski, who suffered a shoulder injury this past weekend against his old team Borussia Dortmund. That’s forced Bayern to go back to an old standby reserve tactic by putting Thomas Muller up top as a false nine and building as strong a midfield as they can behind him to create opportunities with the dynamic duo of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery on the wings.

The Champions League favourites host the title holders in Wednesday’s quarterfinal first leg at the Allianz Arena. Bayern Munich emerged as the bookies’ pick after they mauled Arsenal home and away in the first knockout round, and they’ll look to deliver a knockout blow at home to Real Madrid when Zinedine Zidane’s side visit in midweek.

The Bavarians have failed to win only thrice since November, with the most recent defeat coming away at Hoffenheim earlier this month. They’re comfortably clear at the top of the Bundesliga table, and their 4-1 win at home to Borussia Dortmund on the weekend showed that Carlo Ancelotti’s side are suffering no ill-effects.

Since 2009, there’s been a force at Bayern Munich. Now, Bayern have long been a force in and of themselves just by being Bayern.

But once they made a certain signing, there was a force in their attack. When they signed Arjen Robben to join up with Franck Ribery, they created something that’s been truly special in the sport for nearly a decade now — they created “Robbery.”