Vidal’s header put Real Madrid once in danger, but Ronaldo’s brace help Galaticos finish stunning comeback against 10-men Bayern Munich in their first leg of Champions League quarter-final
The Portugal international netted the 99th and 100th European goals of his illustrious career – either side of Javi Martinez’s dismissal for two yellows – as the holders stole the initiative ahead of next week’s return at the Bernabeu.
Things could have been different for Bayern had Arturo Vidal, who headed the hosts ahead on 25 minutes, doubled their lead with the penalty he blazed over in first-half stoppage-time.
Instead, it proved to be a salvage mission for 10-man Bayern, who did well to prevent Real from running away with the tie in the final half hour, Manuel Neuer’s heroics single-handedly keeping the tie alive.
Despite being boosted by the return of Neuer, Bayern were dealt a huge blow ahead of kick-off with the news Robert Lewandowski had failed to recover from a shoulder injury in time to feature.
The lack of Bayern firepower made for a cagey start to proceedings as two of Europe’s heavyweights met for a record 17th in the Champions League.
Once Real had awoken from their slumber they created the first opening on 18 minutes, Karim Benzema’s header drawing Neuer into a fine saw, tipping the ball onto the bar.
That sparked Bayern into life as David Alaba whistled a sweet strike wide before the hosts took the lead, Vidal rising highest to head Arjen Robben’s corner through Keylor Navas’ hands.
Vidal should have doubled his on 41 minutes but he failed to add the finishing touch to Robben’s inch-perfect cross, heading wide with the goal gaping.
After Neuer had saved a Ronaldo shot, and Toni Kroos had flashed an effort wide, Vidal was handed the chance to atone from the penalty spot, after Dani Carvajal was penalised for handling Franck Ribery’s goal-bound effort.
However, the Chilean failed to underline Bayern’s superiority, blazing over the target from 12 yards.
It took just two minutes from the restart for Real to make their most of their reprieve, Ronaldo applying the finishing touch to Carvajal’s driven cross as he ended his 659-minute wait for a Champions League goal.
Gareth Bale came close to heading Real in front, but Neuer produced a sublime save to deny to Welshman, who was anonymous until his 56th-minute effort.
The game swung in Real’s favour after a rash three-minute spell for Martinez, whose two fouls on Ronaldo yielded bookings, leaving Bayern a man down for the final 30 minutes.
Real laid siege on the Bayern goal but found Neuer in impenetrable form, with the German denying Benzema and Ronaldo in quick succession with fine saves.
But the pressure finally told as Ronaldo stole a march on Juan Bernat to poke Marco Asensio’s fine cross through Neuer’s legs on 77 minutes.