Joselu (top) of Real Madrid celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
MADRID, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Two late goals from Real Madrid substitute Joselu overturned a 1-0 deficit to Bayern Munich to book the Spanish side a place in the Champions League final on Wednesday.
Bayern were leading 1-0 in the 88th minute thanks to a goal from substitute Alphonso Davis when keeper Manuel Neuer inexplicably spilled a tame effort from Vinicius Jr that he would normally have clutched to his chest, allowing Joselu to poke home from close range.
Two minutes later Joselu netted his second after Bayern failed to clear a corner and Antonio Rudiger crossed for him to put the empty net, and give his side a 2-1 win on the night and a 4-3 triumph on aggregate.
From the start it was clear it would be a different game from the first leg in Munich a week ago, because rather than looking to energetically pressure their rivals high up the field, Bayern sat back, with three organized lines willing to soak up Real Madrid's pressure.
That allowed Madrid more of the ball, but fewer spaces for Rodrygo and Vinicius to exploit, although Rodrygo was close to getting a touch on Dani Carvajal's low cross in the sixth minute.
Vinicius should have put his side ahead in the 13th minute when the attack-minded Carvajal picked him in space and his shot bounced back off the post, with the forward hitting the rebound at Neuer.
Serge Gnabry suffered a relapse of his muscle problems in the 26th minute and was replaced by Alphonso Davis, before Harry Kane tested Andriy Lunin with a shot on the turn a minute later.
Real Madrid were doing most of the attacking however, and Neuer had to be alert to tip Vinicius' in-swinging cross out for a corner after it threatened to evade everyone and end up in the net.
The second half began with Vinicius' electric run and cross blocked at the last moment, before Davis saw a shot deflected for a corner at the other end.
Vinicius was giving Bayern right back Joshua Kimmich a torrid night, beating him time after time, with one run setting up Rodrygo to fire just wide and another drawing a flying save from Neuer.
Neuer also got across to block a Rodrygo free kick as Madrid continued to dominate, although Kane and Jamal Musiala both drew saves from Lunin.
Davis stunned the Bernabeu in the 68th minute when he collected a pass from Kane, cut inside and beat Lunin with a powerful shot into the far corner of the net.
Bayern seemed to be closing in on a famous win but Joselu was brought on and changed the game. Real Madrid will now face Borussia Dortmund looking for their 15th Champions League title. ■
Real Madrid's players celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Joselu (L) vies with Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Joselu (1st L) of Real Madrid celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior (R) vies with Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior (R) vies with Bayern Munich's Konrad Laimer during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies celebrates scoring during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Joselu (3rd L) of Real Madrid shoots to score during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Players of Bayern Munich celebrate scoring during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's players celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy (L) vies with Bayern Munich's Harry Kane during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Rodrygo (top) vies with Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Start players of Bayern Munich pose before the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior (R) vies with Bayern Munich's Konrad Laimer during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
