Ronaldo Brace Sinks 10-Man Bayern In Germany

MUNICH (AP) - Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Real Madrid to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday, ending the German side's tournament record of 16 straight wins at home.

The visitors would have found themselves 2-1 up in the 56th but for the fingertips of Neuer. Luka Modric crossed into the area from the left flank and found Gareth Bale six yards away out, but his header was tipped over the bar by the German global who prevented a potentially fatal second away goal.

Bayern were reduced to 10 men just after the hour when Javi Martinez, who had only just been cautioned, tripped Ronaldo as the Portugal forward looked to get clear. But by going to 4-4-2 Real got the control to kill the game.

Four-time world player of the year Ronaldo then slotted in the victor between goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's legs for the victor 13 minutes from time. Zidane made the first change very quickly, in the minute 58th, and Bale was substituted by Asensio. First Carvajal played in Benzema he should have done better than shoot at Neuer.

It had been a total drought of 659 minutes in the Champions League before he latched on to a low cross from Dani Carvajal to direct the ball home for his 99th goal and his century came soon after from close range.

But not even he could stop the inevitable. Fifteen minutes from time, Asensio crossed from the left.

And in the 75th minute, Neuer stuck out a strong fist to block Ronaldo's powerful shot from the same kind of distance. More importantly, it was Real Madrid's second away goal of the night, and it felt like a killer blow to Bayern. That surely would have been the end of the tie but even this, a 2-1 away lead, feels like an implausible mission for Bayern in the Bernabeu next week.

100 - @Cristiano is the first player to reach 100 goals in European competitions (including #UCL , qualifying and European Supercup).

Bayern had pinned Real back and they took the lead from a corner. Thiago took an out-swinger and it was met by the thumping run and header of Arturo Vidal, Bayern's barrel of muscle in midfield. While Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, David Alaba and Thiago Alcantara were running and forcing the game, the visitors appeared static, waiting for chances to present themselves. Luka Modric found Carvajal in space down the right, and his cross was expertly swept into the bottom-left corner by Ronaldo, who was allowed to meet the ball unchallenged near the penalty spot.

Zidane continued: "It is not easy to play here, Bayern have great players and are a great team, but we still needed to play well in the second half and we also have to acknowledge how many saves Neuer had to make. To be able to reach this mark is an honour and against a team like Bayern it is better still", Ronaldo, who scored both goals, told BeIN Sport Spain.