By Samuel A. May 9, 2024
Bringing back memories of their unforgettable, incredible comeback against Manchester City in 2022, Real Madrid produced yet another impressive comeback against Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu. Joselu was Real Madrid’s hero as the former Stoke City striker’s stunning late double completed a 2-1 comeback win over Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final.
Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern initially thought they were heading into the Wembley final as they led until 88 minutes through Alphonso Davies’ second half weak foot stunner, but then Manuel Neuer, who had produced four amazing stops earlier in the game, shockingly and unexpectedly produced a howler and spilled Vinicius Junior’s shot into substitute Joselu’s path to equalise.
As the Santiago Bernabeu pressure rose, and after Harry Kane had been taken off by Tuchel with the score at 1-0 to Bayern – Joselu then turned in Antonio Rudiger’s cross from close range in the 91st minute, a winner eventually given after a VAR review of a tight offside call on the forward. The astonishing yet vintage Real Madrid comeback means they will meet Borussia Dortmund in the Wembley final on June 1, a result which also leaves England captain Kane trophyless from his first season at Bayern. It was a tricky opening half for Bayern, whose only shot came through Kane, who tried his luck from 25 yards but Andriy Lunin tipped his goal bound shot round the post.
Bayern showed more impetus after the break as Davies and Kane saw efforts tipped over, but back came Real. Vinicius teed up Rodrygo in the box who fired inches wide of the far post, before both players stuck Neuer’s palms with efforts from the edge of the box. Jamal Musiala tested Lunin with a rasping drive from the edge of the box and then Bayern struck with a bolt from the blue. Kane played a delightful crossfield ball to Davies on the left wing. The Canadian wide man then cut inside to rifle an unstoppable right footed shot to silence the Santiago Bernabeu.
Almost immediately, Real thought they were level when they went short from a corner and Nacho swept home via a De Ligt deflection. But VAR correctly spotted that the Real Madrid captain had barged Joshua Kimmich out of the way with two hands to the face, so referee Marciniak disallowed the strike. Kane hit the side netting before he and Musiala were bizarrely substituted off with Real just one goal from forcing extra time. The additional period though was not needed, as Joselu also came on and stole the show. First, Neuer thought he had Vinicius’ tame shot under control but the Bayern goalkeeper spilled it into Joselu, who could not miss from a few yards out. Brahim Diaz was then denied by a last ditch Eric Dier block. No matter, Joselu was at it again from the short corner. Kim Min-Jae played everybody onside as Rudiger squared for Joselu to tap home. Offside was initially given but VAR corrected the call, as Real players spilled onto the pitch in celebration.
With Kane watching on from the substitutes’ bench, there was time for De Ligt to rifle home an equaliser but referee Marciniak had already blown for offside, when his assistant arguably should have delayed raising his flag. Tuchel was furious and nearly saw red for his protests. The late controversy started as Bayern were denied what looked like a clear equaliser deep into stoppage time when Matthijs De Ligt scored on the half volley, but with the linesman already flagging for offside, referee Szymon Marciniak had also already blown for offside, despite replays appearing to show that Bayern’s attackers just might have been onside.
“It’s a disastrous decision from the linesman and from the referee. It feels almost like a betrayal in the end because of that decision,” said Tuchel. Replays backed up Tuchel’s claim, as they showed the Bayern defender was onside, with the assistant, who is instructed to keep his flag down for tight calls so VAR can review the call, making a clear error. Whether Real’s players would have stopped De Ligt scoring had the whistle not gone is open to debate, but it was a bad mistake from the officials at a critical time. “The linesman said sorry, that does not help at this level. To raise the flag in a decision like this, and a close decision in the last minute. The referee as well, he does not have to whistle. He sees that we win the second ball and get the shot away to whistle. It’s a very, very bad decision and it’s against the rules and it’s a bad decision. It’s a disaster. Tough to swallow. But it’s away.”
After 15 minutes of stoppage time, Real’s path was finally sealed. Another brilliant Bernabeu comeback story. They will face Dortmund on June 1 st at Wembley stadium.
