Real Madrid stages a late rally to defeat Bayern 2-1 and secure their place in another Champions League final.
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid once again illuminated the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with a magical night, securing their place in the Champions League final.
The 14-time European champion orchestrated another exhilarating comeback on Wednesday, overcoming Bayern Munich with a 2-1 victory to book their spot in the final for the second time in three seasons.
In a scenario reminiscent of many occasions in 2022, Madrid relied on late drama to seal their advancement.
Joselu found the net in the 88th minute and then again in stoppage time as Madrid progressed 4-3 on aggregate, setting the stage for a final showdown against Borussia Dortmund on June 1 in London.
"It's happened once more, what we've seen happen so many times before," remarked Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. "It's inexplicable. The unwavering support of the fans, the enchanting atmosphere of the stadium, and players who never lose faith — it's simply magical."
"I've always dreamed of being part of moments like this," remarked the 34-year-old Joselu. "Not even my best dreams could compare to this."
This will mark Madrid's record-extending 18th European Cup final, and their ninth in the Champions League era, also setting a record. The last time Madrid made it to the final was in 2022, a season punctuated by several late comebacks, similar to the one witnessed on Wednesday.
During that season, Madrid pulled off thrilling comebacks at the Bernabeu against Manchester City in the semifinals, Chelsea in the quarterfinals, and Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.
The six-time European champion, Bayern, had hoped to return to the final for the first time since winning the competition in 2019-20. However, the loss meant there would be no rematch of the all-German final in 2013, when Bayern defeated Dortmund to secure its fifth European title.
"It's painful. It'll take some time to recover, but on the bright side, it's a loss where we gave our all on the pitch," commented Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel. "Of course, it's hard to accept. It's part of the reality. No regrets."
Meanwhile, Dortmund, the 1997 European champion, eliminated Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 on aggregate on Tuesday.
The match was evenly contested, but Madrid created the most significant scoring opportunities. Despite Neuer's exceptional performance, making a series of difficult saves to keep Bayern in the match, he faltered in the final minutes, dropping an easy ball after a shot by VinÃcius Júnior, allowing Joselu—who came off the bench in the 81st minute—to equalize from close range.
"Manu, who had been exceptional in saving us all night, made a mistake he wouldn't make in another 100 years," Tuchel lamented.
Neuer expressed, "Anyone who's ever played football knows how I'm feeling right now."Bayern initially seized the lead with an Alphonso Davies goal in the 68th minute, but their hopes were dashed in stoppage time when a goal they thought had equalized was disallowed due to an offside call, prompting Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel to describe the decision as "disastrous" and "contrary to the rules."
Joselu's first goal came from a simple tap-in after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer fumbled an easy save. The second goal was initially disallowed for offside but was later overturned and allowed after a video review.
No comments: