They did it again. On the verge of a first home defeat in 13 months, Real Madrid conjured up two goals in three minutes from an unlikely source – inspired substitute Joselu with a pair of poacher’s finishes – confining Bayern to a trophyless campaign for the first time in over a decade while punching their ticket into the Wembley final, where they’ll play Borussia Dortmund on June 1.
Davies’ delightful finish merely a footnote after crazy ending
Real (4) 2-1 (3) Bayern
Joselu 88, 90+1 — Davies 68
- London calling: La Liga champions Real Madrid (14-3) will play in a Champions League final for a record 18th time on June 1, first time at Wembley vs. Bayern’s domestic rivals Dortmund – who lost there in 2013
- Jude Bellingham speechless after reaching showpiece event to cap a whirlwind debut season in Madrid: “I’m so grateful to be part of this team, a group of fighters, I’m a little bit shocked. Joselu was alert and ready, others brilliant too. You don’t win trophies or games with 11 players, you have a 25-player squad who work everyday and it’s so important to have.”
- Matthjis de Ligt calls decision a disgrace after his late equaliser is chalked off between linesman’s hasty offside flag and referee blowing his whistle. “It’s almost offside but they keep playing and it turns out [after VAR review] to be a goal, but why not with us? I think it’s impossible, incredible.”
IT felt almost poetic that it’d be Canadian fullback Alphonso Davies, oft-linked with Real Madrid as his contract situation rumbles on publicly, to come off the bench and sink his prospective employers at the Bernabeu in the way very few manage.
Instead at full-time, he was pictured with his mouth covered talking to a grinning Carlo Ancelotti – however briefly – as Real did what they pride themselves on. Manuel Neuer looked impenetrable for long periods but they escaped yet again.
It didn’t come from the usual suspects, Vinicius Junior nor Jude Bellingham, while Rodrygo toiled and missed two big chances before being hooked in the final ten.
Joselu, who joined the club’s Castilla side as a teenager in 2009 (then was loaned back for a season to Celta) before departing for Hoffenheim three years later, was their unlikely matchwinner here and it meant so much to the boyhood Madridista.
Within minutes of the final whistle, a picture of him proudly posing for a picture sporting Real colours with the French monument Arc de Triomphe backdrop before Los Blancos‘ 2022 triumph over Liverpool in Paris was again doing the rounds.
Yet it could’ve been so different here, and that merely adds to the drama. Davies jinked inside Antonio Rudiger, evaded Dani Carvajal – Joselu’s brother-in-law – before curling a fantastic weak-footed finish into the far corner beyond Andriy Lunin.
He was Serge Gnabry’s direct replacement midway through the first-half as the German’s poor injury luck continued while Jamal Musiala had a muscular complaint late on but Bayern surrendered control too early, their players already wasting time and going defensive before Tuchel showed his hand with substitutes prematurely.
Kim Min-jae replaced Leroy Sane, five minutes after Nacho Fernandez’s needless push on Joshua Kimmich saw a Real equaliser disallowed following VAR review.
Harry Kane, whose crossfield pass in transition created Davies’ goal, was off with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting replacing him and their starting front four were spectators.
That meant their chief attacking players were helpless to stop, nor instantly reply as Real cranked up the pressure another two notches.
Rudiger’s defence-splitting ball fed the run of Vinicius, sliding a strike over the bar under pressure from Kimmich but six minutes later, they were surprisingly level.
“He was everywhere once again, more importantly, when people don’t want the ball… it’s easy to turn up when you’re winning but he plays whatever the score, will create at will and don’t forget, scored two in Munich.
He does a job wherever they ask, works hard for the team and as much as I love Bellingham, Vinicius Jr has been consistent for 2-3 seasons there.”
- Thierry Henry, declaring Vinicius Jr is Real’s main talisman in post-match analysis
The Brazilian’s effort from distance skidded as it bounced off the turf goalwards, cannoned back into play off Neuer’s chin-and-gloves then Joselu slotted through his legs before he could claim as Eric Dier allowed him space to ghost in-behind.
The worst was still yet to come.
Nacho offloaded to Rudiger in the area as Bayern couldn’t clear their lines from a corner, he fired across goal and Joselu converted from close-range – surviving the emotional rollercoaster of a VAR review – as the Bernabeu turned to bedlam.
Still another twist came in the 12th minute of stoppage-time.
de Ligt wrongfully denied as officials combine for error
Matthijs de Ligt swept home into the far corner with what should’ve been an equaliser to send this semifinal tie into extra-time.
Kimmich’s lofted ball forward wasn’t adequately defended, but Real defenders looked sheepish having heard referee Szymon Marciniak’s whistle blow mid-sequence after the Pole saw his assistant on the far side flag for an offside.
Noussair Mazraoui and Ferland Mendy battled in the air but replays showed it was the wrong decision – there was no offside – and it’s widely known that when the lines are as marginal as that, officials should let the phase of play continue before going back.
They did not, VAR wasn’t allowed as the referee agreed with his colleague and Bayern were left to rue their misfortune on a painful away night which began so promisingly and ended the same way many do when Real need their resilience to rear its head.
Dortmund’s road back to Wembley 11 years on has been a refreshing theme, especially given the Jadon Sancho resurgence storyline and a fitting send-off for departing club captain Marco Reus. Only he and Mats Hummels remain from that side, but this was a rude reminder of the juggernaut awaiting them in London next.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via CBS Sports Network
Mo and Sports 