Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich: Score and Reaction from 2015 Audi Cup Final

Robert Lewandowski was nearly a goat after missing an easy goal in Bayern Munich's Audi Cup final against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Instead, he was the hero, as his timely conversion in the 88th minute gave the German side a 1-0 victory.   

Douglas Costa's swinging free kick into the box was expertly placed in the danger zone between goalkeeper Keylor Navas and the Real Madrid defense, and Lewandowski found a crack between the two, flashing across the face of goal and deflecting home the game's only tally with a right-footed volley. 

It was a deserved win for Bayern Munich, which looked the better side throughout in a game that saw both teams start the match with several stars on the bench, filtering them into the contest in the second half. Costa, a recent signing, certainly made his mark throughout, as soccer writer Cristian Nyari noted:

Costa's manager, Pep Guardiola, had even more praise for his new winger, per Bayern Munich's official Twitter account:

Thomas Muller also tweeted an image of his teammates with the trophy after the victory:

The 'keepers were the story for most of this one. Navas made several brilliant saves for Real Madrid, denying Mario Gotze with a diving save in the 43rd minute while getting a hand on Juan Bernat's blistering shot in the 78th minute.

He was also a bit lucky, as Muller's speculative shot in the 37th minute deflected off Los Blancos defender Sergio Ramos and careened off the post, all to the relief of the helpless Navas. Lewandowski, a second-half substitution, missed an easy goal in the 63rd minute, as Costa's perfectly placed low cross needed only to be tapped home but instead was redirected wide.

Sky Bet on Twitter passed along the shocking miss:

Lewandowski would make up for it with his winner in the 88th minute, however.

That goal held up as the game's only tally because of all-world 'keeper Manuel Neuer, who made several key saves throughout the game—none bigger than twice denying his former teammate, Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos. In the 51st minute, the German midfielder curved a free kick toward the corner of the net, only to see Neuer make a diving save. 

Fifteen minutes later, Kroos ripped another long shot that bounced just in front of the goal, but Neuer turned aside the threat with another sprawled-out save. 

Kroos was excellent throughout, as his attempt from 30 yards out in the ninth minute appeared to have Neuer beat but went just wide of the lower-left post. He simply couldn't find the net against his former squad.

He'll try to do better on August 23 against Sporting Gijon, when Real Madrid open their La Liga campaign, while Bayern Munich begin Bundesliga play on August 14 against Hamburger SV.

Given the way the past several seasons have transpired, it would hardly be shocking to see these teams cross paths again in Champions League play.