Eternal Real Madrid! After his draw in the first leg (2-2), the King of Europe signed a new comeback on Wednesday which will go down in history to join Dortmund in the final of the Champions League, by overthrowing Bayern Munich (2-1 ) on the wire thanks to a double from Joselu.
The 34-year-old Spanish striker, on loan from Espanyol Barcelona and who had never experienced the high European level until this season, emerged at the end of regulation time to send his team to the final by scoring in quick succession at the 88th and 91st minute, when she was virtually eliminated.
Coming into play a few minutes earlier, this unexpected hero, who came as a simple offensive joker to compensate for the departure of Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia, first punished the only error of German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 38, who had maintained his alive so far (88th, 1-1), before victoriously taking back a cross from Rüdiger (90th+1, 2-1).
Real Madrid striker Vinicius and Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich during the Champions League semi-final, at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, May 8, 2024 / JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
A new irrational reversal of the situation but which is nothing new for the Spanish giant, immortal even when we think of him at the end of the cycle, and who has become an expert in the field in recent seasons (three comebacks in a row on the road of its 14th Champions League in 2022 against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City).
Crowned Spanish champion last weekend four days before the end of the season, Real will face Borussia Dortmund for an eighteenth final and a fifteenth crown synonymous with an unthinkable treble (Liga, Spanish Super Cup , Champions League) at Wembley on June 1.
Davies showers the Bernabéu, Joselu resurrects it
In an atmosphere of great evenings, with its metal case finally finished and its roof closed to make the atmosphere even more unbreathable for the Bavarians, the Santiago Bernabéu had nevertheless been plunged into a cathedral silence by a jewel from the Canadian Alphonso Davies, who entered the play in place of Gnabry in the first period (68th, 1-0).
Bayern Munich’s German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, May 8, 2024 / OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP
As in the first leg (2-2), and like Manchester City in the previous round (3-3), or even more recently FC Barcelona (3-2), the Germans thought they had done the hardest part and were looking forward to a ninth final unexpected after a failed season where they ceded their Bundesliga title, for the first time since 2013, to Bayer Leverkusen.
Especially since their legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, at 38 years old and after months away from the field last season, repelled one after the other the Madrid waves, which had started to sweep over his cage from the first minutes of the match.
The two strong men of Real on the European scene, Vinicius and Rodrygo, once again almost became the heroes of the evening by opening the score in the 13th minute, but found on their way the firm hand of Neuer, well helped by its post.
Bayern Munich’s English striker Harry Kane (right) during the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, May 8, 2024 / JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
The 2014 world champion then completely disgusted the supporters of the White House with three other parades in front of the same Vinicius, (40th, 60th) and Rodrygo, (59th). But he ended up breaking down two minutes from the end of regulation time, like a defense which had given everything and lacked lucidity in the final moments.
The end of the match was marked by refereeing controversies: Madrid’s first equalizer, full of success, was canceled by the VAR for a foul by Nacho on Kimmich (71st, 1-1) and Bayern claimed in vain an off -play by Joselu on his second goal (90th+1, 2-1).
The Germans can also feel aggrieved in the last action of the match, where the Spanish players stopped playing for a not-so-obvious offside, while De Ligt pushed the ball into the back of the net.
