Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany singled out goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for praise after his team secured a 2-1 Champions League quarterfinal first-leg win at Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Goals from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane gave the Bundesliga leader a strong advantage on the back of a dominant display, but Kylian Mbappe pulled one back for Los Blancos, with Neuer making a string of impressive saves to keep the record 15-time winner at bay.

The veteran stopper thwarted the competition's top scorer Mbappe on several occasions and was named man of the match.

"If he was the best player, then I'm also happy with that, it's not a problem," Kompany told reporters.

"I think you always need special performances at this level, in these type of games.

"I think, today, we also had some chances to score more goals, so let's hope we continue this form next week, and let's hope that our strikers are the best players next week."

Kompany hailed two-time Champions League and 12-time Bundesliga winner Neuer's longevity.

"Manu is one of the very few — he's not just able to do it for a very long time, but for a very, very long time," said the Belgian coach.

"To still perform like he does now, I think that is something that not many goalkeepers, even the top ones, are able to do."

Kompany said that, despite Mbappe's goal in the 74th minute, he was happy with his team's win ahead of the second leg next Wednesday.

"We're happy with the result. It's a win, and any win at the Bernabeu in Madrid is an important result."

"It's something that we can build on. And we play at home the next game, so I think, of course, we have respect for the quality of Real Madrid.

"It's normal that they create some moments as well, they were incredibly dangerous at times. But, most importantly, we stayed really dangerous as well, so the idea is, when we go and play the next game at home, to try and go and win the game."

Bayern's match winner Kane scored his 49th goal of a superb season and was pleased with the win, but warned his teammates to stay on their toes in the second leg.

"I thought we played some really good stuff today," Kane told Amazon Prime.

"We're in a good position, but as always, it's a one-goal lead and that can change quickly. We'll try to perform as we did today."

'If any team can do it'

Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa backed his team to mount a comeback in Munich.

"I think it's a defeat that maybe, with a bit more luck in the second half, we could have avoided," the Spaniard said.

"We scored a goal that gave us hope — the pity is, we weren't able to put away any more of the chances we had.

"It's not going to be easy, but if any team can win in Munich, it's Real Madrid."

Jude Bellingham impressed as a second-half substitute for Madrid, as he continues to find his fitness after a hamstring injury, and Arbeloa highlighted the England international's contribution.

"We've talked a lot about how his return to the team should be about getting back to his best level, and I think doing it progressively is just logical to me," said the coach.

"It's true he gave us a huge amount, because we need a player like him, who can evade that very aggressive press Bayern put on, carry the ball, get past opponents.

"And I'm very happy with the energy he showed us, with what we always talk about — his character and personality.

"I see him looking much better, and I'm sure in Munich he's going to help us a lot.

"We are still alive, clearly," Arbeloa said.

"We are one goal away. We have shown that we can win anywhere . We showed it with the scoring chances that we had against an opponent that we knew was going to make it difficult for us."

Madrid and Bayern are playing their sixth knockout-stage meeting in 14 seasons, with the Spanish powerhouse having won four of their five two-leg matchups since the 2011-12 season.

King Kane

Kane participated in the build-up to Bayern's first goal in the 41st minute, exchanging passes with Serge Gnabry, who ultimately fed a through ball for Diaz inside the area. The Colombia forward then calmly sent a low shot past Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Kane scored himself in the 46th minute with a nice first-touch effort from the top of the area, firmly finding the corner with a low strike. It was his 11th Champions League goal, equaling his best scoring season in the European tournament. He finished with 11 goals in 2024-25.

Kane has scored more Champions League goals than any other player since the start of the 2024-25 season, with 22.

Mbappe scored his 20th over the same period in the 74th minute, finding the net from close range after a low, pinpoint cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Mbappe leads the scoring this season with 14 goals, which is double the forward's total of last season. He is three goals shy of the most goals in a single Champions League campaign, achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo with Madrid in 2013-14.

Bayern lost to Inter Milan in the quarterfinals last season, while Los Blancos were eliminated by Arsenal at the same stage.

Bayern is unbeaten in its last 14 games in all competitions, with 12 wins.

Madrid was coming off a 2-1 loss at Mallorca on Saturday that hurt its La Liga title hopes.

Agencies