Real Madrid staged a stunning comeback to secure a spot in the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund, thanks to two late goals by Joselu that overturned Bayern Munich’s lead in a thrilling semifinal clash.
Alphonso Davies seemed to have put Bayern on course for the final when he fired past Andriy Lunin after receiving a perfect pass from Harry Kane. But Joselu leveled the score at 88 minutes after pouncing on a mistake by Bayern’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had been excellent until fumbling Vinicius Jr’s effort.
The drama reached fever-pitch two minutes later when Joselu connected with Antonio Rudiger’s square pass to score from six yards out. Initially ruled offside, a video assistant referee (VAR) decision overturned the call, sparking wild celebrations at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid triumphed 4-3 on aggregate.
Real Madrid, 14-time European champions, will face Borussia Dortmund on June 1 at Wembley Stadium.
Controversy flared in the final moments of stoppage time when Bayern’s Matthijs de Ligt seemed to have forced extra time. The assistant referee flagged Noussair Mazraoui for offside, halting play just before de Ligt’s goal. Replays suggested the original decision was questionable, sparking heated protests from Bayern’s coach Thomas Tuchel and players including Kane and Eric Dier.
For Jude Bellingham, it’s a fairy-tale ending to his first season at Real Madrid. The England midfielder will face his former club, Dortmund, after leaving them for Real in an £88.5m move last June. He already helped secure the La Liga title and now aims for a double in London.
“Facing Dortmund at Wembley feels surreal. I can’t believe it,” Bellingham told TNT Sports. “I dreamed of nights like this when I was a kid in Birmingham.”
But it was heartbreak for fellow England players Kane and Dier. Kane’s hopes of winning his first major title ended as his 44 goals for Bayern this season weren’t enough to stop Real. Both Kane and Dier played in the 2019 Champions League final when Tottenham lost to Liverpool.
The Bernabeu crowd witnessed an electric atmosphere in the second leg. Despite Real’s initial pressure, Neuer made impressive saves against Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo. Bayern struck back against the run of play as Kane found Davies on the left, and the Canadian blasted past Rudiger to give Bayern the lead.
However, Tuchel’s decision to substitute Kane with five minutes left proved costly, as Joselu snatched victory for Real Madrid with two goals.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, reaching his sixth Champions League final, praised his players for their dedication. ‘They are unbelievable. I’m really grateful to them,’ he said. ‘They work incredibly hard, and this is the best squad I’ve ever had.’
