Real Madrid, Bayern Munich trade comebacks to leave Champions League semifinal level after first leg

A nightmarish night for Bayern center back Kim Min-Jae.

He was dragged around and exposed by Vini on the first goal earlier.

Now his clumsy tackle on Rodrygo throws away Bayern's lead. The penalty was a no-doubter. Vini converts. 2-2.

Luka Modric, 38 years young, just dropped an absolute dime to Vini.

Manuel Neuer stands tall and saves.

So many big-time players on display here. Quite a spectacle. This is peak Champions League.

10 minutes remaining, still 2-1 to Bayern

Luka Modric and Brahim Diaz replace Toni Kroos and ... Jude Bellingham?!?

A bit of a surprise. But Bellingham has been pretty quiet tonight.

14 minutes plus stoppage time remaining. Bayern looking more likely to score again.

A deflected Harry Kane shot trickles past the post.

A free Eric Dier header nestles right into Andriy Lunin's arms.

Real Madrid living dangerously here. As it stands, this is a 50/50 proposition going back to Madrid for the second leg. Another Bayern goal would change that.

From 0-1 to 2-1 in less than five minutes!

And it was engineered by Bayern's three most dynamic players.

Konrad Laimer drove into some space in midfield to spray the ball out to Leroy Sané on the right wing.

Sané snapped his 185-day goal drought with a quintessential Leroy Sané goal — cutting inside on his left foot, and unleashing a laser.

Then Jamal Musiala danced into the Real Madrid box and won the penalty.

Harry Kane converted. Bayern has come alive.

One halftime change: Raphaël Guerreiro on for Leon Goretzka in Bayern's midfield.

Which is not a "F it, let's chase the game" change. It's more of a minor tactical tweak.

Toni Kroos' first half: not just the assist. Pretty darn close to on-ball perfection.

After a Harry Kane free kick fizzes a few feet wide, Bayern Munich now has eight shots to Real Madrid's one.

But the one was very high-quality, and the eight have mostly been so-called "half-chances" — none stands out as a glaring miss.

Still 1-0 with halftime approaching.

The challenge now for Bayern: re-find the rhythm of the opening 20 minutes, don't let one moment corrupt your gameplan.

There's risk in starting to chase the game, and losing control, especially against this Real Madrid team.

Real, meanwhile, will be even more happy to drop deep into its own defensive third and play on the counter — which is arguably when Los Blancos are at their best.

... and just like that, as promised, against the run of play... 1-0 to Real Madrid.

All it took was one brilliant, lightning-quick dart from Vinicius Jr., and one classic Toni Kroos pass.

Kroos will likely get the plaudits. But watch the replay, and watch Vini. He checks toward the ball, with just enough intent to drag Bayern center back Kim Min-Jae with him. Then he sprints into the space that Kim vacates. Kim can't keep up. Eric Dier doesn't cover. Boom. 1-0.

Excellent opening 15 minutes from Bayern. A near-ideal balance between attacking impetus and patience, between aggression and control.

As Manchester City and many others can attest, though, if you don't convert chances, Real Madrid can — and probably will! — punish you in an instant, with no forewarning.

Still 0-0.

Reminder: For all the hand-wringing over Bayern Munich this season, their underlying numbers have been great. Elite.

This is still a dominant team, and you've seen yet more evidence over the first 12 minutes here.

(Screenshot below via fbref.com. Expected Goal difference is a measure of the quantity and quality of chances that a team creates and allows.)

Real Madrid nearly fell asleep in the opening minute.

No pressure on the ball. Bayern easily played down the left, around Real's 4-4-2 shape. Leroy Sané got into the box and very nearly snatched an early lead.