 "Real Madrid stun Bayern Munich with comeback win to reach Champions League final as Joselu strikes twice")
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final on Wednesday with Joselu scoring twice in the dying minutes, earning them a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time champions Real Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
La Liga champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the final at Wembley on 1 June, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
“It’s something magical, there’s no explanation,” said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, revelling in another electric night in the Spanish capital.
18 - At Wembley, Real Madrid will play their 18th Champions League final, at least seven more than any other team (11 for AC Milan and Bayern München). Habit. pic.twitter.com/tv2D5E0vwE
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 8, 2024
Journeyman striker and back-up Joselu, came on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace, giving Europe’s comeback kings another memorable night.
“(The comeback) was with feeling and with heart, as the coach told us – you have to win games with heart,” said Joselu.
Madrid were superior for the better part of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike was set to make the difference to force a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Instead Joselu consigned Bayern to a first trophyless season since 2012, his first goal coming after a handling error from normally flawless Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had superbly kept Madrid at bay until then.
“(Before that) there were world class saves after world class saves, but that can happen, it’s football,” said Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt.
High-intensity
THAT moment for Real Madrid. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aTt4T8MVhL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 8, 2024
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka but the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Neuer produced a superb double save to stop Madrid nosing in front, tipping the electric Vinicius Junior’s effort on to the post and then saving Rodrygo’s follow-up.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before England captain Harry Kane’s first flash of danger, but Andriy Lunin pushed his vicious volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Canada international Davies cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane, still chasing the first trophy of his career, in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Referee ‘mistake’
Ancelotti, sacked by Bayern in 2017, has kept Madrid’s squad players engaged and committed to the cause all season and it paid dividends at a crucial time.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and substitute Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
“We had one foot in London, we saw ourselves going through to the final,” lamented the goalkeeper.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second-division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Bayern were left raging at full-time after De Ligt netted but play had been stopped beforehand for an offside flag against Noussair Mazraoui.
“I don’t want to say that it’s always the referee’s mistake with Real Madrid, but that made the difference today,” grumbled De Ligt, saying play should have been allowed to continue.
“It’s bitter, completely bitter,” said Tuchel.
(with inputs from AFP)
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