Kahn blows it

Goalkeeper's blunder hands Real lucky draw with Bayern

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) -- An awful blunder by goalkeeper Oliver Kahn presented Real Madrid with a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich in the first leg of their heavyweight Champions League first knockout round tie on Tuesday.

The German international keeper allowed a seemingly harmless long-range free kick from Roberto Carlos to roll under his body with seven minutes left of a lively battle that Bayern had dominated.

Dutch striker Roy Makaay had headed the Germans into a deserved lead in the 75th minute of a game played in freezing temperatures.

Bayern's form this season has been erratic but the German champions rose to the occasion and were clearly the better side in the 15th competitive European clash between two of Europe's football powerhouses.

Their prestigious visitors, who had lost on their previous seven visits to the Olympic stadium, failed to shine but will now fancy their chances of reaching the quarterfinals.

However, Munich will be kicking themselves after their aggressive midfield and constant movement did not give Real's artists many chances to shine.

The first half was a one-sided affair with the visitors resisting under sustained pressure with help from Iker Casillas, who produced a string of crucial saves.

The Real goalkeeper notably kept out a low drive from Makaay in the 12th minute and an effort from Brazilian defender Ze Roberto in the 24th.

Looking nervous and disorganized in defense, Real survived several scares and hand only a weak Ronaldo effort to show for their few attacking moves.

The second half was slightly more balanced with the visitors trying their luck as David Beckham curled the ball just over the bar in the 52nd minute.

But Bayern soon resumed their march forward and responded eight minutes later with a header from Makaay that went just wide and then with a shot from playmaker Michael Ballack that just missed the target in the 62nd minute.

Makaay finally found the target after a superb cross by Claudio Pizarro but Kahn's blunder -- not his first this season - undid all the hard work.

The old rivals set a record with their ninth meeting in the Champions League, one more than ties between Manchester United and Juventus, Galatasaray and Barcelona and Real Madrid and Porto.

The 10th, at the Bernabeu, could be a classic if Bayern can repeat the form they displayed before a capacity 59,000 crowd on Tuesday but Real remain the favorites to survive the showdown and move towards a 10th title.

Bayern coach proud of team, sorry for Kahn

MUNICH (Reuters) -- Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was proud of his team after their 1-1 Champions League draw with Real Madrid and said he felt sorry for goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, whose blunder cost his side victory.

"We can be proud of our performance," Hitzfeld said after Bayern dominated their visitors in the first leg of the first knockout round tie on Tuesday.

Bayern deservedly took the lead with a header from Dutch striker Roy Makaay in the 75th minute but German international Kahn allowed a seemingly harmless long-range free kick from Roberto Carlos to roll under his body with seven minutes left.

"We created many chances and should have been 2-0 or 3-0 ahead," Hitzfeld added.

"It's all quite regrettable and just fate for Oliver Kahn. He's been excellent in recent weeks. It's bitter."

Real resisted under sustained pressure for most of the game and the likes of Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham failed to shine because of Bayern's aggressive midfield play.

The Spanish champions also looked nervous and disorganized in defense but coach Carlos Queiroz was not complaining after his men kept alive their quarterfinal hopes alive.

"It was a very difficult game and Bayern played extremely well," he said. "You could say I am more satisfied with the result than with our performance but Bayern made it really hard for us and we did fight."

Bayern's form this season has been erratic but they rose to the occasion in their 15th competitive European clash against their old rivals.

"In a match like this it's not hard for anyone to get motivated," said Bayern playmaker Michael Ballack.

"I think we played great a great match. We got countless scoring chances but weren't rewarded in the end, just punished."

Ballack said he still believed in Bayern's chances for the second leg at the Bernabeu and offered support to Kahn, who has so often lifted Bayern out of tight spots.

"If we can come up with a performance like this again I'm sure we'll advance," Ballack said. "It's only unfortunate we weren't rewarded for this. But nothing's been decided yet.

"That happens in football," the Germany midfielder said of Kahn's misfortune.

"We win and lose as a team. He doesn't need anyone to feel sorry for him. He'll come up with another great match."

Summary

Bayern Munich 1 Real Madrid 1 -- result

Champions League, first knockout round, first leg

Scorers:

Bayern Munich -- Roy Makaay 75

Real Madrid -- Roberto Carlos 83

Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 59,000

Teams:

Bayern Munich: 1-Oliver Kahn; 2-Willy Sagnol, 4-Samuel Kuffour, 5-Robert Kovac, 3-Bixente Lizarazu (20-Hasan Salihamidzic 46); 23-Owen Hargreaves, 13-Michael Ballack, 6-Martin Demichelis (16-Jens Jeremies 90), 11-Ze Roberto; 10-Roy Makaay, 14-Claudio Pizarro (24-Roque Santa Cruz 76).

Real Madrid: 1-Iker Casillas; 2-Michel Salgado, 6-Ivan Helguera, 15-Raul Bravo, 3-Roberto Carlos; 10-Luis Figo, 23-David Beckham, 14-Guti, 5-Zinedine Zidane; 7-Raul, 9-Ronaldo (21-Santiago Solari 90)

Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)

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