Vinícius Júnior scored two goals for Real Madrid, resulting in a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday.
Although Bayern controlled much of the game, Madrid managed to hold their ground, leaving the matchup still undecided ahead of the return leg in Madrid on May 8.
Despite the attention on England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, as well as Toni Kroos’ reunion with his former team, Vinícius emerged as the standout player, showcasing his skills with his bright green boots.
The Brazilian forward scored the opening goal in the 24th minute against the run of play and later equalized with a calmly taken penalty in the 83rd minute, after Leroy Sané and Kane had scored for Bayern.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who previously led Bayern to the Bundesliga title in 2017, expressed satisfaction with the result, emphasizing that it provides confidence for the second leg.
Bayern’s Kane scored another penalty, marking his 43rd goal in 43 games for the team this season.
Despite the intimidating atmosphere created by Bayern fans, who were encouraged to wear red, Ancelotti believes Madrid can perform well in the return leg. Both teams paid tribute to club legend Franz Beckenbauer before kickoff.
The winners of the semifinal will face either Borussia Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in London on June 1.
Bayern dominated the early stages of the game, with Sané having an early chance saved by Andriy Lunin. However, Madrid gradually found their rhythm after nearly 20 minutes.
