Ruthless Real take the edge

Real Madrid were unspectacular and even unconvincing in their 2-1 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday but there was nothing lucky about a victory that should ensure a fourth Champions League final in five years.

Zinedine Zidane has watched his side suffer in games away to Munich, German champions, PSG, French champions, and Juventus, top of Serie A, in Europe this season. But they won them all.

Real may not be outplaying their rivals, or even playing better than them, but Zidane's team are ruthless. They pounce on mistakes and, even under the heaviest pressure, believe absolutely they are going to win.

Bayern wrapped up a sixth straight Bundesliga title three weeks ago and reached the German Cup final on May 19. Yet an off-key Real managed to all-but burst Bayern's treble dreams.

"It was a curious game, we had a lot of chances we didn't use, so it's no wonder we lost," fumed Heynckes "I'm not accusing anyone, but our defence was poor for the goals they scored -- we gave them away.

"What team has so many chances against Real and doesn't use them?

Having suffered an almighty scare at home in the quarterfinals, when Juventus won 3-1 in Madrid after Real had beaten them 3-0 in Turin, Zidane says nothing is decided despite Real's slender advantage.

"We will have to fight in the second leg, nothing is decided, that showed in the second leg against Juventus," said Zidane. "We will have to suffer again and face Bayern in a different way at home, because if we don't, we could have a bad result," he warned. "We can be happy with the result, we had difficulties at the start of the match in imposing our game. It's not easy to come and win here, we can do better, but we're happy with the result."

Zidane pulled a surprise before kick-off by dropping Gareth Bale, but insisted he does not have a problem with the Welshman and captain Sergio Ramos backed his decision.

"When Zizou has to gamble, he does, because he is the boss," Ramos said. "We are very happy that he is steering the boat."