Galaxy

29 Apr 2014

Real Madrid Wreak Bayern to reach UCL final

Real Madrid Wreak Bayern to reach UCL final
First goal of the night by Ramos
Real Madrid moved a step closer to a 10th European Cup as they blew away defending champions Bayern Munich to reach the final of the Champions League on a record-breaking night at the Allianz Arena.
Holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg of their semifinal, a first-half brace from Sergio Ramos and two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo -- which took his season's Champions League tally to a record 16 -- handed Real a comfortable 4-0 win that takes them to the Estadio da Luz to face either Chelsea or city rivals Atletico on May 24.
The only negative for Real on a night when they took their goal tally in this season's Champions League to 37 -- another record -- was a booking for Xabi Alonso that rules the midfielder out of the final.
Both teams made just one change from the first leg with Gareth Bale replacing Isco for Real and Thomas Muller coming in for Rafinha for Bayern.
There was a minute's silence before proceedings began in honour of former Barcelona coach, and Pep Guardiola's former assistant, Tito Vilanova and former Real manager Vujadin Boskov who both passed away last week.
Both sides looked nervous at the outset and it was not surprising that the first chance came from an error as Manuel Neuer came out of his area to head away but could only find Bale who fired over an empty net from distance.
Angel Di Maria fired a speculative effort over the bar shortly after and it was not long before the visitors took the lead in the 16th minute.
Dante did well to cut out a Karim Benzema chance but from the resulting corner Luka Modric swung in the ball and an unmarked Ramos headed powerfully home.
The Germans were now looking at an uphill task and that became nearly impossible four minutes later when rampant Real had their second.
Toni Kroos fouled Bale on the right around 25 yards out and Di Maria's delivery was flicked on by Pepe to the edge of the six-yard box, where Ramos met the ball with a diving header to double the lead.
Real predictably now seemed quite happy to sit back and hit their opponents on the counter and Ronaldo took advantage in the 34th minute.
Di Maria spread the ball right to Benzema, who freed Bale and the Welshman and Ronaldo were two-on-one with Jerome Boateng. Bale slipped the ball across to the Portuguese and he calmly slotted below Neuer.
Everything was going perfectly for the Spaniards but they suffered a blow in the 38th minute when Alonso deservedly went in the book for a clumsy challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Tempers were clearly beginning to fray as Bayern swarmed round Iker Casillas' goal without really troubling the goalkeeper and Franck Ribery may have been lucky to stay on after an apparent slap to the face of Daniel Carvajal was not spotted by referee Pedro Proenca just before half time.
Guardiola removed Mandzukic at the interval and brought on Javi Martinez and it was Bayern who had the first chance after the break as Ramos was forced to head over his own bar under pressure.
The second half was a far more subdued affair and despite Arjen Robben curling an effort wide and Ribery bringing a save from Casillas, neither side looked like scoring in the first 15 minutes.
Ronaldo headed over the bar but neither side showed much of a threat in the closing stages as Carlo Ancelotti brought off Ramos, nullifying the danger of a yellow card that would cost him his place in Lisbon.
Ronaldo completed the rout in the final minute with a low free-kick from 18 yards as Real completely outclassed the Bundesliga champions.

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