'On the ropes' - Spanish media react to tough Champions League night for Real Madrid against Harry Kane-inspired Bayern Munich

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Can Real Madrid pull off another of their famous remontadas? There was tentative optimism in the Spanish press on Wednesday morning following Los Blancos' 2-1 quarter-final first leg defeat to Bayern Munich. Diario AS called Kylian Mbappe's strike "the goal of hope", while Marca teased that "while there is life" the tie might not yet be over, despite Bayern's impressive display.

Highlights: Kane and Bayern too hot for Real in Bernabeu first leg

Video credit: TNT Sports

The whistles were deafening inside the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu as Vinicius Junior passed up another chance amid Real Madrid's laboured second-half attempts to get back into their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg with Bayern Munich.

Fortunately for Los Blancos, a dreamy Trent Alexander-Arnold cross set up Kylian Mbappe to halve the deficit, but the Spanish media appeared to be on the side of hope rather than expectation as they reacted to a tough night against an impressive German opponent, and looked ahead to the second leg.

"While there is life...," Marca led with on their front page, continuing that "Mbappe's goal raised hope of a comeback against a very potent Bayern Munich."

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Diario AS concurred that Mbappe's goal was the thing to cling onto, labelling it "the goal of hope" and that Madrid will travel to Munich "alive" despite Bayern's dominance for an hour.

"On the ropes," declared Mundo Deportivo, who said that Bayern "played more football" and that Madrid's reaction to going 2-0 down was "insufficient".

Marca's inside pages spoke of how vital Manuel Neuer was to Bayern, with a string of key saves, and the legendary German goalkeeper certainly looked a happy man as he spoke to the press in the Bernabeu mixed zone after the match.

But the Spanish daily also lamented Real's display, and their evolution over recent times.

"Football is unpredictable, and Real Madrid even more so," wrote Jose Maria Rodriguez.

"Despite everything, sometimes logic prevails. Bayern imposed personality in the Bernabeu.

"They are much more of a team than two years ago, when they lost in the semi-finals - but Madrid are less than what they were."

Roberto Gomez went further by criticising Alvaro Arbeloa's "very bad" starting line-up, and said that "Jude Bellingham must start whatever".

As would be expected, though, the noises coming out of the Madrid hierarchy were positive.

"I think it is a defeat that we could have avoided if we had a little more luck," said Arbeloa.

"We lost two balls that had to be avoided and against these teams if you make these mistakes you pay for it.

"If any team can win in Munich it is Real Madrid. We are Real Madrid, we know the difficulty of winning there, but we will go for it."

Arbeloa promises Real 'still alive' in Bayern quarter-final tie

Video credit: TNT Sports

Kane for Ballon d'Or?

Notable among Bayern's protagonists at the Bernabeu was Kane, with the England frontman - still not looking 100% after injury - finishing beautifully to double his side's lead in the second half.

With Bayern looking the likelier to go through at this point in the tie, it could mean Kane sees off one of his potential Ballon d'Or rivals in Mbappe.

Steven Gerrard, watching on for TNT Sports, said it was a "massive few months" for the forward and his overall career.

"He should always be in the conversation [for the Ballon d'Or] because of the number of goals he scores," Gerrard said. "What I would say is that it’s a massive few months for him.

"If he can progress in the European Cup and go and win it, if he can have a strong tournament with England and be around the highest scorers and England have a successful tournament, then I think you earn the right to be in the conversation for the Ballon D’Or."

You can watch and stream the second leg - Bayern Munich v Real Madrid - next Wednesday on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

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