After 12 frustrating years and nine managerial changes, Real Madrid are one monumental match away from "la decima", their 10th European Cup.

Ever since Real president Florentino Perez coined the term, after their 2002 final victory against Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park, the hunt for their 10th European Cup has become an obsession. For so long, they have vanquished so close to triumph. 

Carlo Ancelotti is on the verge of completing what the likes of Jose Mourinho, Vicente Del Bosque and Fabio Capello failed in. The Italian is so close to imposing himself on Real folklore.

Yet, they are not there just yet, as Gareth Bale was quick to point out post-match. Either of Chelsea or Atletico Madrid will provide stern competition in the grande finale at Lisbon on 24 May. Mourinho v Madrid or the derby of the Spanish capital. It will be compelling.

This was Real employing successfully powerful German football and Bayern inefficiently Spanish passing football. This was sweet revenge for their semi-final exit to Bayern in 2012. This was a special evening.

 For all the euros invested in this star-studded team, this was two headers scored by Sergio Ramos which booked a final date, the Spaniard's goals matched by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Yet again, the World Player of the Year tore the history books to shreds, recording the most goals in a single European Cup campaign, bypassing the 15 mark. He provided evidence as to why he had secured the Ballon d'Or under the attentions of Franck Ribery, the Frenchman failing to sufficiently influence this return leg.

 However, Ancelotti's delirious gratification will be tempered by Xabi Alonso's ineligibility for the final, picking up a hugely detrimental and needless booking. The Spain midfielder's absence will be inevitably rued at the Estadio da Luz. He is their sentry and source of guidance. His most probable replacement on 24 May is Asier Illaramendi, the 24 year-old midfielder acquired from Real Sociedad to suceed Alonso psot-retirement. It is a big blow.

Despite their domination of possession, Pep Guardiola's side were shorn of any incisive penetration, the polar opposite of Real's outstanding display. Robert Lewandowski, surely destined for Bavaria in the summer, would be a substantial upgrade on Mario Mandzukic. For Bayern, this was a horror story even Anthony Horowitz could not have written.

In this blockbuster clash, football's Hollywood equivalent, the drama began through the release of the teamsheets. It was the Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo against third-placed Ribery. The presence of the most expensive football in history, Bale, contributed healthily to the air of anticipation which engulfed a capacity full Allianz Arena.

Bayern, as usual, were assertive in possession, but Real shimmered with danger, their hazardous nature known to the vocal Bayern support. Each pause and period of Real possession were jeered unstintingly. Bale, latching onto a clumsy Neuer header, fired over.

 Real continued to threaten, their search for an invaluable away goal paying dividends. Modric's flighted corner bypassed the attentions of Dante and Mandzûkic to connect sufficiently with Ramos's head and send his colleagues wheeling away in delirium.

Bayern, not accustomed to defeat, reacted in splenetic fashion to Ramos's opener. Dante received a merited booking for a sore challenge on Ronaldo before Kroos beseeched referee Pedro Procenca.

Real were firmly in the ascendancy, Ramos meeting Di María's costless-kick delivery to guide his header into the bottom right corner. This was incredible, shunning the Allianz Arena to unrecorded decibel levels.

As Bayern desperately probed for a spark of hope, Real constantly breached their horribly porous defence with brutally incisive counter-attacks. Ronaldo, one-on-one with Dante, shot wide. A promising move involving Benzema collapsed.

Real once again scampered forward to lethal effect. Di María caressed the ball on the halfway line and fed Bale. The Welshman burst beyond Dante to supply Ronaldo, whose effort through Neuer's legs, broke her another record. The Portugal talisman sped across to the corner flag and emphasised his unprecedented feat in celebratory fashion.

Guardiola's introduction of Javi Martinez at the interval in the place of Mandzukic was solely for damage limitation. Pragmatic strategies from Guardiola are a rarity, such was the chastening nature of the evening.

As this absorbing return leg petered out, Neuer somehow thwarted Coentrao. Then stepped up Ronaldo to outwit the Bayern wall and drive powerfully under their floundering feet.