Bayern Munich beat European rivals Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final at the Bernabeu. However, it was Bayern captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 40, who stole the limelight from the host of stars on display in Madrid.
Neuer, who put in a man-of-the-match performance, made nine crucial saves to help his side maintain their dominance despite Bayern dominating much of the game. The German giants posted an Expected Goal (xG) of 2.92 but wasted chances to effectively put the tie out of Madrid’s reach in the first leg itself.
Goals from Luis Daz and Harry Kane gave Bayern the lead. while Kylian Mbappe managed to find the net for Madrid, his effort was awarded after goal-line technology confirmed it had crossed the line, despite Neuer’s efforts to keep it out. Nevertheless, Neuer made three saves against Madrid’s talismanic duo, Mbappe and Vincius Jr.
“Everyone can have their own opinion, but Manu has done it for a very, very long time. That’s something not many goalkeepers are capable of,” Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany said when asked if Neuer was the best goalkeeper of all time.
What really stood out was Neuer’s use of experience, particularly at the Bernabeu as he produced a masterclass at just 40 years of age. Even the Madrid players reportedly recognized him as the best player on the pitch.
One defining moment came when he denied Vincius Jr. in a one-on-one situation. When Dayot Upamecano misjudged a long ball, Vincius made his way through the goal. Neuer reacted immediately, positioning himself outside the box and subtly pushing the Brazilian wide, narrowing the angle and making the chance difficult.
“It’s a shame it didn’t end 2-0, honestly. You know how dangerous Real Madrid are. We saw that today. They had a few chances and left some opportunities behind. We’re happy with the win here, but it’s still going to be a tough and challenging task,” Neuer told Amazon Prime after the match.
Neuer even managed to get a hand on Mbapp’s goal, which was later awarded after crossing the bar. “Was it really in? That’s outrageous. It’s the goalkeeper’s fault in that case,” he joked.
Both teams will carry mixed emotions into the second leg in Munich next week. Bayern will rue their missed chances, while Madrid will be relieved to still be firmly tied as they prepare for the return leg.
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Published on:
08 Apr 2026 13:46 IST
