Real Madrid advanced to their 18th Champions League final after overturning Bayern Munich for a dramatic 2:1 second leg win at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Royal club was losing until the 88th minute, but managed to score two unanswered goals through the "golden" reserve Joselu.
The match started with more active actions of the "white ballet" after the 2:2 draw in the first clash at Allianz Arena. Germany keeper Manuel Neuer produced a superb double save - first from Vinicius' shot which was deflected by him at the far post and then from Rodrigo's attempt which was deflected from close range by a wonderful intervention from the opposition keeper. At the other end, Andriy Lunin and company also had their work cut out for them, twice Bayern didn't develop their attacks well enough, and Harry Kane's shot Lunin had to show class.
After the break, Carlo Ancelotti's men came out more aggressively again, but were scorched in the 68th minute. Alphonso Davies, who was forced in before the break, received the ball from the left, went inside and with a great shot with his right foot opened the score for the visiting team. Shortly after that, a goal for The Kings was disallowed after the intervention of the VAR. It came down to the endlessly dramatic closing minutes when first Neuer made a blunder that allowed Joselu to restore parity in the 88th minute, then Real produced the complete turnaround when once again Joselu was in the right place to score into an empty net after submission by Antonio Rüdiger. The situation was reviewed after the intervention of VAR for an offside, but there was none and so Real were jubilant.
In extra time, it came to tension after Matthijs de Ligt put the ball in Lunin's goal. However, the goal was disallowed due to Noussair Mazraoui's flagged offside, and the replays did not convince the correctness of the decision of the head referee Szymon Marciniak. However, as it was ruled offside before De Ligt finished it off, it was bound to lead to VAR intervention, which predictably infuriated Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel and the Bavarians' coaching staff.
Ultimately, Real progress to the final at Wembley on June 1, where they will meet another German club, Borussia Dortmund, who eliminated Paris Saint-Germain in the other semi-final. The Royals will be looking for a record 15th trophy against the Yellow and Blacks, who have one trophy, which came in 1997. After the final whistle at the Bernabeu, Bayern officially marked one of their rare trophy-less seasons, even with the arrival of Harry Kane last summer. /BGNES
