(CNN Spanish) — Real Madrid knew how to come back and with a double from Joselu they defeated Bayern Munich 2-1 to advance to the final of the Champions League. They will face Borussia Dortmund on June 1 at Wembley Stadium in London.
The first leg of this semifinal ended 2-2 and the first half of this match extended that parity between two teams focused on not making mistakes.
Real Madrid, facing a white tide at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute with a shot by Vinicius Jr. that hit the post and on whose rebound Rodrygo had a chance to score a goal, but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved exceptionally in two halves.
In the 28th minute, Bayern Munich created danger with Harry Kane, the tournament’s current top scorer along with Kylian Mbappé, but his powerful shot was deflected into a corner kick by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
Manuel Neuer was the best of Bayern Munich. Credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
In that stretch of the first half the game then turned into a duel of goalkeepers, and Neuer’s turn in the 39th minute when Vinicius Jr. kicked a ball that could have been a cross, an assist or a direct shot; a danger that Neuer avoided with great reflexes and a spectacular flight.
At the beginning of the match, Real Madrid dominated with an incisive Vinicius Jr. who looked for the goal on several occasions but Neuer won each duel.
Bayern Munich remembered to attack in the 66th minute but Lunin deflected Joshua Kimmich’s shot. A minute later, after an excellent individual play by Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich scored the first goal of the game. Impressive whip with his right leg that beat the Ukrainian goalkeeper of the Spanish team.
Alphonso Davies celebrates the German team’s goal. Credit: OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images
After the goal, Carlo Ancelotti moved the Real Madrid bench instantly: he took out Toni Kroos (a figure from the previous match at the Allianz Arena) and brought in Luka Modric. Aurélien Tchouaméni also left and Eduardo Camavinga entered.
The Bernabéu called a goal by Nacho Fernández in the 68th minute that meant the tie, but it was annulled by the VAR after reviewing and declaring that there was a foul by Nacho on Kimmich.
Bayern looked solid defending their lead and Ancelotti continued with the changes in the 81st minute: Rodrygo came out, Brahim Diaz came in, Federico Valverde came out and Joselu came in.
Joselu celebrates one of the comeback goals. Credit: THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images
Jo-se-lu. The hero of the day without a doubt. He scored the tie in the 87th minute after the only error of the match figure up to that moment: Neuer gave a rebound. And that was enough to shake things in his favor.
Three minutes later, in the midst of Real Madrid’s attack, Joselu gave the final blow and scored 2-1, making the overall score 4-3 and giving the white team a pass to Wembley.
The referee counted out several minutes and there was controversy at the end (minute 90+12) when Bayern Munich finished a play with a goal but it was ruled out for offside. The linesman raised the flag and there was no VAR review.
The story ends up being a well-known plot: Real Madrid comes back in a flash; Real Madrid in a Champions League final and let’s not talk about Harry Kane’s titles.
Harry Kane laments after the end of the match. Credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
