Joselu inspires Real Madrid comeback to beat Bayern Munich to reach Champions League final football news

Real Madrid reached the Champions League final on Wednesday with a spectacular comeback from “heart” against Bayern Munich, with Joselu scoring two goals in the final minutes to give them a 2–1 victory and a 4–3 aggregate score. Went. Alphonso Davies headed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half, but record 14-time winners Madrid made a sensational comeback with goals from Joselu in the 88th and 91st minutes. Spanish champions Real Madrid faced another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on 1 June, when they stunned the team they call their “dark beast”.

“It’s something magical, there’s no explanation,” said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti as he enjoyed another electric night in the Spanish capital.

Journeyman striker and back-up substitute Joselu, coming on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace, giving Europe’s returning kings another night to remember. Got it.

“(The comeback) was from spirit and heart, as the coach told us – you have to win games with heart,” Joselu said.

Madrid had the better of the match but it looked as if Davis’ brilliant strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.

Instead Joselu sent Bayern into a trophy-less season for the first time since 2012, his first goal coming after a handling error from Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had brilliantly kept Madrid at bay until then.

“(Before that) there were world-class saves after world-class saves, but it can happen, it’s football,” Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt said.

– high intensity –

Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, leaving out the experienced Thomas Muller and Leon Goretzka, but the hosts dominated the early stages.

Neuer made a brilliant double save to deny Madrid the lead, tipping an electric Vinicius Junior effort onto the post and then saving Rodrigo’s follow-up.

Bayern’s Serge Gnabry was injured and Davies replaced him before England captain Harry Kane’s first blow of danger, but Andrey Lunin fired his dangerous volley wide of the post.

Neuer turned away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams finished level in a high-intensity, increasingly frantic first half.

The second period was equally dreadful, with Davies’ cross deflected onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.

Vinicius was impossible to play down Madrid’s left and Rodrigo fired his low cross wide of the far post.

The 38-year-old Neuer made brilliant saves to prevent both Brazilian forwards from scoring just before the hour mark, allowing Madrid to ramp up the pressure.

However, like in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern attacked.

Canadian international Davis cut inside from the left and fired a shot into the far top corner beyond Lunin after 68 minutes.

Madrid thought they had equalized moments later through Nacho, but the strike was ruled out after a VAR review as the defender caught Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.

Tuchel brought Kane, still chasing the first trophy of his career, to try to seal victory in the closing stages, but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.

Ancelotti, who was sacked by Bayern in 2017, kept his Madrid squad engaged and committed throughout the season and it paid off at crucial times.

Neuer, who had been in great form so far, parried a simple strike from Vinicius and substitute Joselu gratefully scored from close range.

“We had one foot in London, we saw ourselves going to the final,” the goalkeeper lamented.

With Bayern’s crushing defeat, Madrid again launched a decisive attack. Once again it was Joselu, a striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, who turned home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back.

The goal was ruled offside but the officials overturned the decision after review and after almost 15 minutes of stoppage time Madrid had the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.

Real midfielder Jude Bellingham said, “There have been times where we have looked dead and buried, but our mentality is to never die.”

Bayern were on fire throughout after De Ligt scored, but play had already been stopped due to an offside flag against Noucair Mazraoui.

“I don’t want to say that it’s always the referee’s fault with Real Madrid, but today it made a difference,” complained De Ligt. He said the game should have been allowed to continue.

“It’s bitter, absolutely bitter,” said Tuchel.