Real Madrid orchestrated a remarkable turnaround against Bayern Munich to secure a spot in the Champions League final, with Joselu scoring twice in the closing minutes to seal a 2-1 victory on Wednesday, advancing 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies initially put the German side ahead in the second half, but Madrid, the 14-time champions, staged a sensational comeback with Joselu finding the net in the 88th and 91st minutes.
The Spanish champions are now set to face Borussia Dortmund in the Wembley final on June 1, following their victory over the team they consider their “black beast.” Joselu, a substitute who entered the game late, etched his name in Madrid’s history with his crucial goals. Despite Bayern’s strong start, Madrid’s resilience and Joselu’s heroics proved decisive, leaving midfielder Jude Bellingham to praise the squad’s never-say-die attitude and commend Joselu’s contributions throughout the season.
The match saw Madrid dominate early on, with Dani Carvajal making an impact after returning from suspension, while Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel’s tactical changes failed to prevent Madrid’s dramatic comeback.
Rodrygo Goes came close to converting Carvajal’s pass, and the Spain defender then cleverly assisted Vinicius Junior with a pass that went through a defender’s legs, leading to Manuel Neuer deflecting the Brazilian’s shot against the post. The rebound was picked up by Rodrygo, but his attempt was feeble, and Neuer managed to save it with a desperate arm, completing an impressive double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry had to leave the field due to an injury, with Davies taking his place before Harry Kane posed a threat for the first time. Madrid’s goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, was attentive enough to divert the England captain’s powerful long-range shot away from the goalpost.
Neuer also managed to push away a free-kick from Vinicius, as the first half ended with both teams level after an intense and frantic period of play. The second half continued in a similar manner, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was a force to be reckoned with on Madrid’s left side, and Rodrygo narrowly missed his low cross towards the far post. Neuer, at 38 years old, made exceptional saves to deny both Brazilian forwards once again before the hour mark, while Madrid maintained control of the game and increased the pressure.
Despite Madrid’s dominance, Bayern capitalized on their opportunity just like they did in Munich. Kane passed to Davies, who cut inside from the left and scored a goal beyond Lunin into the top corner after 68 minutes. Madrid thought they had equalized through Nacho, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review due to the defender’s actions before shooting.
Tuchel made a tactical substitution by taking off Kane in the final stages to secure the victory, but it slipped away as Madrid created more unforgettable European moments. Neuer, who had been outstanding throughout the match, made a rare mistake by fumbling a seemingly simple shot from Vinicius, allowing Joselu to score from close range.
With Bayern struggling to recover, Madrid struck decisively once again. Joselu, the striker on loan from a second division side, Espanyol, found the back of the net after Antonio Rudiger set him up with a pass. Although the goal was initially ruled offside, the officials overturned the decision.
