Bayern Munich spoiled Eden Hazard’s Real Madrid debut, downing the Spanish giants 3-1 in a friendly in Houston Saturday despite goalkeeper Sven Ulreich’s sending off.
Corentin Tolisso, Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry had given Bundesliga champions Bayern a comfortable 3-0 lead before recent Real Madrid signing Rodrygo grabbed a consolation goal with a brilliant free kick.
That followed Ulreich’s departure late on for a foul on Brazilian teen Rodrygo outside the area.
Rodrygo, Luka Jovic and Ferland Mendy all made their debuts for rebuilding Real, all coming on at half-time as Zinedine Zidane changed his entire side.
Hazard’s first outing in a Madrid jersey since his high-priced move from Chelsea had dominated the headlines.
But despite getting a starting nod he made little impact at the NRG Stadium.
πΈπ Our first starting XI of the season!#RealMadridIsHere #RMTour pic.twitter.com/IG67cw5OpY
— Real Madrid C.F. π¬π§πΊπΈ (@realmadriden) July 21, 2019
It needed a stellar display from Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to keep Los Blancos at bay, but Bayern led at the interval thanks to Tolisso’s 15th-minute strike.
Thomas Muller freed Kingsley Coman whose cross made it to Tolisso who was denied by Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois on his first attempt but slotted home the rebound.
Karim Benzema let a golden chance go begging in the 43rd, meeting a cross from Isco but knocking his effort wide.
Neuer came up with another impressive save just before the interval, diving to his right to grab Luka Modric’s effort from 10 yards out.
Courtois fended off a rocket from Coman in first-half injury time to keep Bayern from stretching their advantage before the break.
While Madrid applied plenty of pressure, Hazard was circumspect, often opting to pass off to his new team-mates.
The stars came out in Houston for #FCBayern!
— πΊπΈ FC Bayern US π¨π¦ (@FCBayernUS) July 21, 2019
πΊπΈ #AudiFCBTour πΊπΈ @JHarden13 β@deshaunwatson β@kylekuzma β@ArianFoster β pic.twitter.com/W45sjkmZlb
The closest the 28-year old Belgian came to his first Real goal was in the 39th minute, when he found space on the left and bent a shot toward the far post only for Neuer to punch it away.
Zidane’s wholesale changes at the interval did nothing to further Madrid’s cause, even though they controlled possession early in the second half.
Lewandowski doubled Bayern’s lead in the 67th controlling a high ball from Niklas Sule, turning and firing into the bottom corner.
Two minutes later Madrid gave the ball away deep in their own end and an unmarked Gnabry was able to control the ball and fire past Keylor Navas in goal.
