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THURSDAY | APR 9, 2026

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SuperMan-uel Bayern boss Kompany praises ‘special’ Neuer display in win at Real Madrid

B AYERN MUNICH coach Vincent Kompany hailed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after his team secured a 2-1 Champions League quarterfinal first leg win at Real Madrid yesterday. Luis Diaz and Harry Kane’s goals gave the Bundesliga leaders a strong lead on a dominant display but Kylian Mbappe pulled one back for Madrid, with Neuer making a string of impres sive saves to keep the record 15-time winners at bay. The veteran stopper

continue this form next week, and let’s hope that our strikers are the best players next week.” Kompany praised two-time Champions League and 12-time Bundesliga winner Neuer’s longevity. nue this form next week, and let’s hope that rikers are the best players next week.” ompany praised two-time Champions “Manu is one of the very few – he’s not just able to do it for a very long time, but for a very, very long time,” said the Belgian coach. “To still perform like he does now, I think that is something that not many goalkeepers, even the top ones, are able to do.” Kompany said that despite Mbappe’s goal in the 74th minute, he was happy with his team’s win ahead of the second leg next week. “We’re happy with the result. It’s a win, and any win in the Bernabeu in Madrid is an important result,” added Kompany. “It’s something that we can is team’s win ahead of the second leg next

fortable about our advantage.” Bayern’s match-winner Kane scored his 49th goal of a superb season and was pleased with the win, but warned his team to stay on their toes in the second leg. “I thought we played some really good stuff today,” Kane told Amazon Prime . “We’re in a good position but as always, it’s a one-goal lead and that can change quickly. “Coming to Madrid and trying to get a result is always a difficult thing to do. We created some good chances; credit to (Madrid), they did too. “We can be really happy with the win and take it into next fortable Baye Kane sc superb pleased

tantly, we stayed really dangerous as well, so the idea is when we go and play the next game at home, to try and go and win the game. “It’s important to continue our momentum. They will give us a tough game and are the kind of team that can do something special, but so can we.” Bayern winger Diaz, speaking to Movistar , added: “This was a testing match. Madrid are strong at home. We had a good game plan and executed it pretty well, espe cially in the first half. “Both sides had more r

warned h toes in the “I thou really go A in a alway and quic “ and alwa do. W chanc they di “We with the w week. We’re i we have to stay

thwarted the competition’s top goalscorer Mbappe on several occasions and was named man of the match. “If he was the best player, then I’m also happy with that, it’s not a problem,” Kompany told reporters. “I think

scoring chances and if we’d tucked one of ours away we’d have headed home feeling much more com

build on. And then we play at home the next game, so I think, of course, we have respect for the quality of Real Madrid. “It’s normal that they cre ate some moments as well, they were incredibly dan gerous at times. But most impor hink, of course, we have espect for the quality of Real hey were incredibly dan

week. We’re in a good position, but we have to stay focused and try to do the same again.” Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa backed his team to mount a comeback in Munich. “I think it’s a defeat that maybe, with a bit more luck in the second half, we could have avoided,” said the Spaniard. “We scored a goal that gave us hope – the pity is we weren’t able to put away any more of the chances we had. “It’s not going to be easy, but if any team can win in Munich, it’s Real Madrid.” Jude Bellingham impressed as a second half substitute for Madrid, as he continues to find fit ness after a hamstring injury, and Arbeloa high lighted the England international’s contribu tion. “We’ve talked a lot about how his return to the team should be, about getting back to his best level, and I think doing it progressively is just logical to me,” said the coach. “It’s true he gave us a huge amount, because we need a player like him, who can evade that very aggressive press Bayern put on, carry the ball, get past opponents. “And I’m very happy with the energy he showed us, with what we always talk about – his character and personality. “I see him looking much better, and I’m sure in Munich he’s going to help us a lot.” – AFP/Agencies Real Madrid c backed his team to “I think it’s a defeat more luck in the secon avoided,” said the Span “We scored a goal t pity is we weren’t able “It’s not going to be ea win in Munich, it’s Real M Jude Bellingham impr substitute for Madrid, as h ness after a hamstring inju lighted the England inte “We’ve talked a lot ab the team should be, abo best level, and I think do just logical to me,” said th “It’s true he gave us a h we need a player like him very aggressive press Bay “And I’m very happy showed us, with what we

you need special per formances always at this level in these type of games. “I think today we had also some chances to score

more goals, so let’s hope we

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe (right) shoots but fails to score past Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the Champions League quarterfinal, 1st leg match at the Santiago Bernabeu yesterday. – AFPPIC

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