Bayern bow out to Zidane

By Andy Hall at the Santiago Bernabéu

Real Madrid CF remain the only undefeated team in this season's UEFA Champions League after beating FC Bayern München 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu to seal their place in the quarter-finals.

Salgado impressive
Defender Míchel Salgado was the unlikely architect of the success, setting up Zinedine Zidane for the only goal of the game before clearing a Claudio Pizarro effort off the goalline. Although Bayern had long spells of possession, they did not threaten Iker Casillas on many occasions.

Forced changes
Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz was without leading scorer Ronaldo and rampaging defender Roberto Carlos. Santiago Solari was brought into the attack while Raúl Bravo went to left-back and 22-year-old Álvaro Mejía started as centre-back in place of flu victim Francisco Pavón, who was on the bench.

French heroes
Bayern started with the same eleven that played in the first leg. Willy Sagnol was wearing a light cast to protect the arm he broke at the weekend while Bixente Lizarazu had not played since hobbling from the Munich tie with a thigh injury.

Busy start
Both teams started the game with gusto - Bayern enjoying the better of the early exchanges with Roy Makaay firing a low drive directly at Casillas while Michael Ballack wildly skied his long-range effort into the stand moments later.

Madrid strike back
Madrid had a chance to strike back after Martin Demichelis felled Solari in the fourth minute. David Beckham swung in the resulting free-kick but nobody was available at the far post to connect. On ten minutes, a ferocious shot by the excellent José María Guti brushed the bar as the locals stepped up their attacks on Oliver Kahn's goal. Five minutes later, Bayern's defence was put to the test with Raúl González flicking a header just wide from Zidane's swinging centre.

Kahn foils Raúl
Raúl, spearheading all of Madrid's offensives, barged his way into the Bayern area only to be met by Kahn, who raced off his line to smother the ball on 19 minutes. However, once the early excitement subsided the game turned into a midfield battle broken on the half hour when Makaay sprinted on to a deep pass only to have the ball plucked from his feet by Iván Helguera.

Zidane scores
It was Raúl who was responsible for making Madrid's opening goal on 32 minutes. Twisting and turning on the edge of the area, the striker was twice brought down before Beckham collected the loose ball and found Salgado via a Bayern head. The defender beat Robert Kovac in the air and Zidane turned the ball in at close range at the far post. It was a deserved opener for the home side, who could have added a second when Salgado received the ball outside the area but watched his powerful effort whistle just wide.

Casillas magic
Casillas then saved Madrid from conceding an equaliser on 40 minutes by pulling out a spectacular save to deny Zé Roberto from the edge of the area. The visitors went even closer from the resulting corner, which Casillas failed to claim under pressure from Sammy Kuffour. Claudio Pizarro poked the ball goalwards but Salgado hacked it to safety from under the crossbar.

Late chances
Bayern started the second period well but created few clear-cut chances. Makaay had three shots on goal, two of which were saved and the other was blocked by Helguera. Substitute Roque Santa Cruz went close with a header which cleared the crossbar before Bastian Schweinsteiger saw a deflected shot trickle wide. At the other end, Zidane, Beckham and Raúl went close while Kahn made a late stop from Guti.