Real Madrid is back in the Champions League final following another incredible night at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
On Wednesday, the 14-time European champion produced yet another spectacular comeback, defeating Bayern Munich 2-1 and making it to the final for the second time in three years.
Similar to other instances in 2022, Madrid required some dramatic late-game play to progress.
After scoring goals in stoppage time in the 88th minute, Joselu helped Madrid advance 4-3 overall and secure a spot in the final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1 in London.
Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, stated, “Well, it has happened again what has happened so many times before.” It defies explanation. It’s really something magical: athletes that never give up, amazing stadium, and supporters who encourage us.
After Alphonso Davies gave Bayern the lead in the 68th minute, the team believed it had equalized in stoppage time, but it wasn’t because of an offside call that Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel called “disastrous” and “against the rules.”
Joselu’s first goal came via a tap-in after Manuel Neuer, the Bayern goalkeeper, blew a simple save. After a video review, the second, which had been initially ruled offside, was eventually permitted to play.
The 34-year-old Joselu stated, “You always dream of being part of moments like this.” “This exceeded even my wildest dreams in quality.”
It will be Madrid’s record-tying eighteenth European Cup final overall and ninth in the history of the Champions League. When Madrid advanced to the final in 2022, a season characterized by multiple thrilling comebacks like as the one it accomplished on Wednesday, it defeated Liverpool.
At the time, Madrid stunned Chelsea in the quarterfinals, Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16, and Manchester City in the semifinals at the Bernabeu by pulling off amazing comebacks.
Bayern, the six-time European champion, was hoping to make it back to the championship game after winning it all in 2019–20. Due to the defeat, the all-German 2013 final, in which Bayern defeated Dortmund to claim its fifth European championship, will not be replayed.
“It aches. Although we gave it our best on the field, it’s a loss nonetheless, and it will take time to heal, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel stated. Naturally, it’s difficult to accept. It is a fact of life. I have no regrets.
Paris Saint-Germain was defeated 2-0 on aggregate by Dortmund, the 1997 European champion, on Tuesday.
Although the game was fairly evenly balanced, Madrid had the majority of the goal opportunities. However, it was unable to overcome Neuer’s outstanding display, as he had produced a number of challenging saves to keep Bayern in the game.
However, in the closing moments, the German international let a simple pass go by following a shot by Vinícius Júnior, which allowed Joselu, who had entered the game off the bench in the 81st minute, to equalize from in front of goal.
According to Tuchel, “Manu, who had been extraordinary in saving us all night, made a mistake he wouldn’t make in another 100 years.”
“Anyone who’s ever played football knows how I’m feeling right now,” Neuer remarked.
It’s quite painful that we were eliminated in the last minute after leading 1-0 till the 85th minute, he remarked. “We saw ourselves in the final, we’d made it to London, and now I’m at a loss for words.”
A minute into stoppage time, German-born striker Joselu gave Madrid the lead following a cross from Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger on the left flank.
Before the Madrid players and the Bernabeu fans could celebrate the winner, the linesman initially raised the flag for offside.
When the referee blew the whistle for offside before the play was finished, a goal by Matthijs de Ligt didn’t count, and Bayern angrily protested at the conclusion.
According to De Ligt, the linesman expressed regret and stated he “made a mistake” by raising the flag and stopping play.
Davies gave Bayern the lead in the 27th minute when he beat Rüdiger in a one-on-one situation, cut back into the middle of the area, and sent a right-footed drive into the far corner past Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. Davies had entered the game in place of the injured Serge Gnabry.
A few minutes later, Madrid appeared to have equalized, but a video review determined that defender Nacho Fernández had fouled Joshua Kimmich, leading to the goal’s cancellation.
