MADRID: Vinicius Junior has struggled to consistently hit top form this season but snatched Real Madrid a vital 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich on Tuesday with a brace to give his side every chance of reaching the Champions League final.

With the focus on England stars Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, as well as Toni Kroos’ return to his former team, Vinicius emerged as the decisive figure on a night when his bright green boots were often a blur.

Bayern dominated but Real survived, and the 23-year-old forward’s strikes bookended a pulsating semi-final first leg battle at the Allianz Arena, leaving all to play for in the Spanish capital next week.

Bellingham’s explosion on to the scene has taken some focus from Vinicius, but the Brazilian has now scored in the semi-finals for a third successive season.

Kane and Kylian Mbappe lead the scoring charts in the Champions League with eight goals each, but Vinicius climbed to five on a heady spring evening in Munich.

This season the forward has sadly been in the headlines for the incessant racist abuse aimed at him in Spanish stadiums as much as his goalscoring exploits, but this was a night where his qualities came to the fore.

Vinicius spotted Kroos’ cunning intentions after 24 minutes, running on to the German midfielder’s low through ball and stroked past Manuel Neuer to put Real ahead.

After Bayern, with only the Champions League title left to fight for, had scored twice in four minutes early in the second half through a Leroy Sane strike and Kane penalty, it was Vinicius again who pulled Real level.

The striker broke into the box with a slalom run and released compatriot Rodrygo, who was clumsily hauled down by Bayern defender Kim Min-jae.

Vinicius stayed calm to slot home the resulting penalty and ensure Real start off on even footing back at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“We always want to win but we know that this competition is like that, you can’t give away balls because teams score the chances they have,” Vinicius said.

“We have to keep our heads calm, rest until next week and we know that we and the fans are going to leave everything at the Santiago Bernabeu to qualify. Now it’s time for a magical night at home to win and secure our place in the final.”

Despite breaking through at Real as a left winger, this season Vinicius has been deployed centrally on occasion by coach Carlo Ancelotti, particularly in big matches.

In both legs of the quarter-final against Manchester City he played in the middle, and although he did not score he created two goals in the 3-3 home draw against Pep Guardiola’s side.

Ancelotti said he believed goals would come for Vinicius in the position and as is so often the case, the wise Italian was proved right.

“He’s learned to move well without the ball... and his finish was ice-cool,” noted Ancelotti, who led Bayern to the Bundesliga title in 2017. “I think it’s a good result. It gives us faith and confidence for the second leg. It’s completely open.”

Facing each other for a record eighth time at this stage of the competition, it was Bayern who got off to a strong start, racking up half a dozen attempts on goal by the 15th minute with Sane and Kane coming close.

Real needed only one chance to score though, stunning the home crowd against the run of play when Kroos sliced open the Bayern defence.

“It felt like the goals were scored when the other team was better,” Kroos said. “We’re pretty sure that we’ll advance at home.”

Vinicius was frequently involved, helping to create a chance for Kroos early in the second half that Neuer saved superbly.

Instead, it was Bayern who scored two minutes later with a solo effort and shot from Sane that eluded goalkeeper Andriy Lunin for a deserved equaliser.

Their comeback was complete in the 57th when Jamal Musiala was brought down in the area by Lucas Vazquez and Kane sent Lunin the wrong way from the spot to put the home side ahead.

However Vinicius would have the final say, for now at least, with his penalty that earned Real a draw from a game where they might have lost, given the volume of chances Bayern created.

“Everything we’re fighting for is in this competition,” said Kane. “We’ve just got to find a way to get it done. Real Madrid away is going to be tough but we’ve got to go there with full belief and go for the win.

“The Champions League is the biggest of them all. If we can somehow get our hands on it, it will be an amazing season — but there’s still a long way to go.”

The winners of the two-leg semi-final will play either Borussia Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in London on June 1.

“Real Madrid does this to teams, so we should not be too disappointed,” Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said. “I think we will be able to create chances in the Bernabeu. This is one of the most difficult places to win, yes, but it’s a challenge. That’s the beauty of it.

“The situation is very clear. Win in Madrid, then off to Wembley. The winner takes it all. We will be ready and we accept the fight. We will go to Madrid with self-confidence. We have to be brave.”

Vinicius’ double at a vital time opens debate over whom Real’s finest talent is, although not for elder statesman Kroos.

“A week ago everyone said the best was Jude... now it’s Vini,” said the 34-year-old. “It’s just that we have have a lot of good players.”

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2024