Harry Kane made an immediate impact for Bayern Munich on his return from injury, scoring once and assisting another in a 2–1 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Kylian Mbappé pulled one back for Madrid after Bayern had gone two goals ahead at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Luis Díaz opening the scoring late in the first half.
Kane, who had been doubtful for the match after missing a Bundesliga game due to an ankle issue, struck just 20 seconds into the second half to register his 49th goal of the season.
The win gives Bayern an advantage heading into next week’s return leg in Germany as they aim for a semifinal spot, having last fallen at that stage in 2023–24 to eventual winners Madrid.
History favors the German side, who have progressed in 12 of 13 Champions League ties after winning the first leg away from home. The result also ended Bayern’s nine-match winless run against Madrid in the competition, their longest against any opponent.
Kane was involved in the buildup to Bayern’s opener in the 41st minute, combining with Serge Gnabry before the ball was slipped through to Díaz, who finished low past goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
He then doubled the lead early in the second half with a first-time strike from the edge of the box, marking his 11th goal in this season’s Champions League — matching his personal best in the tournament. Since the start of the 2024–25 campaign, the England striker has netted 22 goals in the competition, more than any other player.
Mbappé responded in the 74th minute, scoring from close range after a precise low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. He now has 20 Champions League goals since the start of last season and leads this year’s scoring chart with 14, twice his tally from the previous campaign. He is also just three goals short of Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for most goals in a single Champions League season, set in 2013–14.
Vinícius Júnior came close to scoring in the 61st minute but was denied by Manuel Neuer, who also made a strong save from Mbappé shortly after and finished the match with nine saves. The Bayern goalkeeper had already kept Madrid at bay earlier in the game with key stops against both attackers.
Madrid defender Álvaro Carreras also made a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Dayot Upamecano in the first half.
Both teams had exited at the quarterfinal stage last season, with Bayern losing to Inter Milan and Madrid — 15-time European champions — falling to Arsenal.
Bayern, the reigning German champions, are now unbeaten in 14 matches across all competitions, winning 12 of them. Madrid, meanwhile, entered the game after a 2–1 defeat to Mallorca that dented their La Liga title ambitions.
