MADRID – Karim Benzema scored in the 19th minute to give Real Madrid a 1-0 win over defending champion Bayern Munich on Wednesday night in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.
Madrid got its goal on a counterattack when Cristiano Ronaldo found Fabio Coentrao speeding down a flank. Coentrao crossed for Benzema, who tapped the ball past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from 4 yards.
Ronaldo returned from a left leg injury that had sidelined him from April 2 and missed a number of scoring opportunities. Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas denied substitute Mario Goetze in the 84th.
Madrid, which won the last of its nine European titles in 2002, has been knocked out of the semifinals for three straight years.
The second leg is Tuesday in Munich. Chelsea hosts the other semifinal next Wednesday following a 0-0 tie at Atletico Madrid this week.