Real Madrid concede they were fortunate to draw their Champions League first knockout round tie with Bayern Munich and, thanks to goalkeeper Oliver Kahn's awful blunder, are confident of reaching the quarter-finals.
"Bayern now have to go to Madrid in search of a win," Real defender Roberto Carlos said after the 1-1 result. "That will be very hard for them because, with our fans behind us, we are a very difficult side to beat in our own stadium."
The Spanish champions were on the back foot for much of Tuesday's game at the Olympic stadium and Bayern took a deserved lead when Dutch striker Roy Makaay made the most of some poor Real defending to head home unchallenged in the 75th minute.
Real were gifted an all-important away goal when Bayern's normally reliable goalkeeper Kahn let a long-range Carlos free kick roll under his body just seven minutes from the final whistle.
The late equaliser allowed Real to avoid defeat for the first time in eight visits to the Bayern stadium and gives them the upper hand as they head into the second leg at the Bernabeu on March 10.
"Given the way the game went, it is a very good result for us," said Real keeper Iker Casillas, who kept his side in the match with a series of sharp reflex saves. "Except for our goal, we had very few chances.
"They had more of the ball and enjoyed more chances and it probably wasn't a fair result. Kahn's error was one of those things that can happen -- everyone makes mistakes -- but he is experienced enough to get over it."
Carlos said he had not expected to score from the free kick, adding that Kahn was not entirely to blame for the goal.
"I had turned around (after taking the free kick) because I thought Kahn had saved it, but the ball was going quite quickly, it was wet and was difficult to save."
Despite Bayern's poor domestic form, Real midfielder David Beckham believes the Bundesliga side had showed they were still very dangerous opponents.
"I've been hearing for some time now that Bayern are in crisis, but when you play against them you realise that they are still a great team," the England captain said.
"I'm convinced, though, that we are going to make it through to the quarter-finals. We can't slip up at the Bernabeu."
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