MUNICH — Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr scored twice, including a late penalty, to snatch a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich in an entertaining Champions League semifinal, first leg on Tuesday, leaving the tie wide open.
The Brazilian, who put Real in front after 24 minutes, has now scored in the semifinals for a third successive season.
Bayern had struck twice in four minutes early in the second half through a Leroy Sane strike and Harry Kane penalty to turn the game around before Vinicius' spot kick.
Kroos almost added another himself in the 51st but his curled shot was palmed wide by Neuer. Instead, it was Bayern who scored two minutes later with a solo effort and shot from Sane that eluded goalkeeper Andriy Lunin for a deserved equalizer.
Sané goal vs Real Madrid
LEROY SANÉ WITH THE CUT IN AND ROCKET FINISH pic.twitter.com/BU0a2XiTeG
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 30, 2024
Facing each other for a record eighth time at this stage of the competition, it was Bayern who got off to a strong start, racking up half a dozen attempts on goal by the 15th minute with Sane and Kane coming close.
Real needed only one chance to score though, stunning the home crowd against the run of play when Kroos sliced open the Bayern defence with a through ball and Vinicius Jr chased it down to beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
VINI JR. WITH MADRID'S FIRST SHOT ON GOAL
That ball from Toni Kroos pic.twitter.com/3vXSk0vM8Z— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 30, 2024
Bayern's comeback was complete in the 57th when Jamal Musiala was brought down in the area by Lucas Vazquez and Kane sent Lunin the wrong way from the spot to put the home side ahead.
It only took Bayern Munich four minutes to turn things around ⚡
Game on pic.twitter.com/5phahUYZEt— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 30, 2024
Real, chasing a 15th European Cup, levelled in the 83rd with Vinicius' penalty, after Rodrygo was felled by a clumsy challenge from Kim Min-jae, to set up a mouth-watering return leg in Madrid next week.
IT HAD TO BE VINI JR
All level between Real Madrid and Bayern pic.twitter.com/lHHiVGjDdN— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 30, 2024
"We always want to win but we know that this competition is like that, you can't give away balls because teams score the chances they have," Vinicius Jr said.
"We have to keep our heads calm, rest until next week and we know that we and the fans are going to leave everything at the Santiago Bernabeu to qualify."
"Now it's time for a magical night at home to win and secure our place in the final," he added.
The winners will face either Borussia Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain, who meet in the second semifinal on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Additional reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Ken Ferris)
