How the 'worst kick-off ever' from Real Madrid led to Harry Kane's winner for Bayern Munich in UEFA Champions League quarter-final
Published 07/04/2026 at 23:38 GMT+1
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An avoidable mistake straight from the second-half kick-off might have cost Real Madrid a place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, as Los Blancos stare at a second quarter-final exit in a row. Luis Diaz and Harry Kane were on target as Bayern Munich secured a valuable 2-1 win at the Bernabeu, as the Germans put one foot in the last four of the competition.
The 'worst kick-off ever' - How Kane goal unfolded at Real Madrid
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bayern Munich secured a monumental 2-1 away victory in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid, thanks to the "worst kick-off ever" from the hosts.
Vincent Kompany's side took a valuable lead into the break after Luis Diaz's opener four minutes before the half-time whistle.
After the break, Madrid kicked off the second half hoping to cancel out the Germans' advantage and get themselves back in the game but, instead, gifted the visitors a second goal.
Straight from the second half kick-off, Madrid quickly lost possession in midfield when Vinicius Junior played a looping pass into the middle of the park, which Alvaro Carreras could not control.
Bayern snatched possession and promptly shifted the ball to Michael Olise on the right, and he teed up Kane to slot home from the edge of the box for 2-0.
Former Bayern midfielder and TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves described the Madrid move as the "worst kick-off ever", and fellow pundit Joe Cole agreed.
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Highlights: Kane and Bayern too hot for Real in Bernabeu first leg
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Yeah, the worst kick-off," Cole said. "Putting yourself under pressure, everything [you're told] not to do.
"Carreras plays the ball to Vinicius, runs into midfield. A horrendous ball [into midfield from Vinicius] and then the turnover. Carreras is on the floor waiting, they don't get the bodies back, and then you leave the best marksman in European football just to stroke it home.
"He [Carreras] turns around here and he's just looking at Vinicius [with his arms outstretched]. It's a dreadful start to the second half."
Before the game at the Bernabeu, Hargreaves described Olise as "amazing to watch" and compared him to Bayern great Arjen Robben, "but a bit smoother and slower".
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And that is exactly how Hargreaves summed up the Frenchman's assist for Kane's goal.
"How about the weight of pass from Olise? [And then] how Kane just passes it into the goal," he said.
"These guys, they play with such precision. That might look like nothing from Olise, but it's class and the finish from Harry is class.
"I said before the game, if you make mistakes, these guys [Bayern] will hurt you. Madrid made a few mistakes and got punished."
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Bayern have 'earned the right' to be confident at Real - Kompany
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bayern will take a 2-1 lead into the second leg at Allianz Arena next week, with Madrid staring at a second consecutive Champions League quarter-final exit.
Last year, Los Blancos were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Arsenal, and Bayern are threatening to repeat The Gunners' demolition job, with Mikel Arteta's side also winning 2-1 in the Spanish capital.
Having been eliminated from the Spanish Cup at the last-16 stage and with Barcelona leading Alvaro Arbeloa's side by seven points in La Liga - not to mention the uphill battle against Bayern in Europe - Madrid are facing the prospect of a trophyless season for the first time since 2020/21.
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