Munich, Germany: Carlo Ancelotti insists Bayern Munich can still turn around their Champions League quarterfinal tie at the Bernabeu despite their 2-1 first-leg defeat at home to Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Real Madrid.
Ronaldo netted his 100th European goal on Wednesday, scoring both goals in Real’s 2-1 comeback win at Bayern, who had Javi Martinez sent off.
The Bavarians now have it all to do for the return in Madrid next Tuesday.
Bayern should have been 2-0 up at the break in Wednesday’s first-leg, but Arturo Vidal, who headed the hosts into a first-half lead, skied a penalty.
The first-leg turned after the break as Ronaldo equalised, then Real dominated Bayern with the numerical advantage and peppered the Bayern goal.
Real deserved the win which Ronaldo sealed by reaching the 100-goal milestone on 77 minutes.
It could have been a higher score and Real captain Sergio Ramos had the ball in the net late on, but the goal was disallowed.
Ancelotti says the Germans still have a fighting chance in Madrid.
“We don’t have a big chance, but it’s still a chance — we’re still alive,” said Ancelotti.
“They could have killed it (the tie) by scoring another goal, but they didn’t.
“We had the game under control in the first-half, but we lost our efficiency after the break.
“It made life hard when we went behind, but we still have a chance.”
Bayern have won only three of their 11 European matches at the Bernabeu — the last of which was on penalties in 2011/12 after it finished 3-3 on aggregate.
Germany striker Thomas Mueller says the Bavarians have the necessary belief.
“We don’t need a footballing miracle. The belief is still strong, or we wouldn’t be FC Bayern Munich,” he said. “In my opinion, we didn’t have the 100 per cent conviction that we are the better team.”
Winger Arjen Robben says the Bavarians will have to raise their game having been outplayed in the second half.” — Reuters
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