Real Madrid produced a heart-stopping comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final. Substitute Joselu emerged as the unlikely hero, scoring a dramatic brace in the final minutes to secure a 2-1 victory on the night and a 4-3 win on aggregate.
Dramatic Finish Secures Final Berth
Los Blancos found themselves trailing after Alphonso Davies’ stunning strike in the second half. The Bavarians seemed on course to repeat the 2013 all-German Champions League final in London. However, with the clock ticking down, Joselu had other plans. First, he capitalized on a fumble by veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to bundle home from close range. Then, with time running out, he converted a cutback from Antonio Rudiger to send the Bernabeu into a frenzy. A late offside call was overturned by VAR, sending Real Madrid through to a historic 15th Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1st.
Early Domination Gives Way to Tense Encounter
The Spanish champions dominated the opening stages of the match. Dani Carvajal, back from suspension, orchestrated numerous attacks. Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes came close on several occasions, but Neuer stood firm with a string of impressive saves. The intensity remained high throughout the first half, with both sides creating chances but failing to convert.
The second half mirrored the first, with Madrid controlling possession and Bayern looking to hit on the counter. Just as Los Blancos ramped up the pressure, Bayern struck. Harry Kane found Davies in space, and the Canadian international unleashed a powerful shot that nestled into the top corner. Real Madrid thought they had equalized moments later through Nacho, but a VAR review ruled out the goal for a foul in the build-up.
Unlikely Hero Emerges in Final Minutes
With the scores level and time running out, hope seemed to be fading for Real Madrid. However, substitute Joselu had other ideas. In the 88th minute, Neuer misjudged a Vinicius shot, allowing Joselu to tap in from close range. The Santiago Bernabeu erupted, and the momentum shifted decisively in favor of the home side. Just three minutes later, Joselu struck again. Rudiger found him unmarked in the box, and his finish, initially flagged for offside, was confirmed after a VAR review. After a dramatic finale with nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League final.
This victory underlined Real Madrid’s never-say-die attitude in the Champions League. As midfielder Jude Bellingham stated, “There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die.” This comeback win will be etched in the club’s history, with Joselu, a loanee from Espanyol, becoming an unexpected hero.
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