Madrid come from behind to beat Bayern

Real Madrid did as they do to come from behind and edge past Bayern Munich by four goals to three on aggregate and set up a UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium in a few weeks. 

LINEUPS

RMA XI: Lunin; Dani Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho*, Mendy; Tchouameni; Fede Valverde, Kroos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior

RMA SUBS: Arrizabalaga, Courtois, Militao, Fran Garcia, Modric, Dani Ceballos, Camavinga, Guler, Lucas Vazquez, Joselu

BAY XI: Neuer*; Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Mazraoui; Laimer, Pavlovic; Sane, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane

BAY SUBS: Peretz, Ulreich, Upamecano, Kim, Davies, Goretzka, Bryan Zaragoza, Muller, Choupo-Moting, Tel

Action: In a fairly fast start for such a delicately poised UEFA Champions League semi-final failed to produce many clear cut chances for either side in the opening stages at the Bernabeu.

The near misses early on came when Dani Carvajal’s rapid cross avoided everyone in the Bayern box before some good play from the visitors released Serge Gnabry in behind but Gnabry slid the ball wide of the post in two minds with Harry Kane at the back post.

However, there was to be a few moments of magic from Bayern Munich’s remarkable goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who has returned to form in the last few months.

Dani Carvajal passed the ball into Vinicius Junior, wide open in the box, the Brazilian attacker’s well struck shot across goal was pushed onto the post by Neuer. Rodrygo, on the rebound, couldn’t divert the ball beyond Neuer either.

Harry Kane very nearly put the Germans into the lead when he spun well to volley an effort from around 20 yards out but his attempt was tipped wide by Andriy Lunin.

Vinicius Junior then nearly snuck the ball into the bottom corner past Neuer once again when his cross avoided everyone in the box but Neuer did well to push wide of the post.

Once again we had a fast start to the half at the Bernabeu with Vinicius Junior beginning to really dominate down the left flank up against Joshua Kimmich.

However, it was at the opposite end of the pitch where Bayern’s biggest threat also came with Alphonso Davies having a deflected effort narrowly drop wide of the post.

Vinicius, though, was once again at the forefront of Madrid’s attacks with the Brazilian setting up his compatriot but Rodrygo had his effort blocked well by Neuer. Rodrygo then had a free kick that was well saved by Neuer before Vinicius had yet another effort tapped well over by Neuer, too.

With Los Blancos seemingly turning the screw, it was Bayern Munich that managed to take a surprise lead on the night with Davies, the main threat, pulling off an excellent effort.

The Canadian flew down the left once again from a Harry Kane assist with Davies cutting back onto his right foot and launching his strike into the bottom corner across goal. 

Real Madrid thought they had equalised immediately after, though, or so they had thought. A short corner was bundled into the box and then deflected past Neuer off the aforementioned Davies but after a consultation with VAR, a foul was awarded for Bayern with Nacho Fernandez shoving Joshua Kimmich in the face.

Bayern very nearly made it two, though, and could have sealed their victory when Jamal Musiala slid in Harry Kane but the Englishman struck hard into the side netting. 

Bayern then had a great chance to finally get their second goal when Joshua Kimmich’s corner was met by Kim Min-jae but the South Korean could only fire his header off the cross-bar.

‘They always find a way’ and they did so, once again. Jude Bellingham found Vinicius on the left and he struck hard at Neuer but the German, who had been magnificent on the evening, spilled the ball and Joselu was quickest to react to rifle in on the rebound from close range.

JOSELU IS MADRID'S HERO! 🤩

A rare mistake from Manuel Neuer 😬

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/lcoUIfsyos

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2024

Madrid continued to attack with more efforts from Vinicius and Joselu, as well as Brahim Diaz, but Eric Dier stood tall to make some excellent blocks.

Real Madrid managed to, as they seemingly always do, turn the game around in stoppage-time, though, when Antonio Rudiger’s cross was diverted in by Joselu. Originally given as offside, VAR intervened to award the eventual winner.

There was to be another moment of controversy when the referee whistled for offside with the ball in play and Bayern scored via Matthijs de Ligt. It was chalked off but there was a suggestion it could well have been onside in the build-up and a refereeing error was made with the Bayern bench infuriated. 

The big picture: Real Madrid held on for victory, though, and are now just 90 minutes away from their 15th UEFA Champions League. They won La Liga at the weekend and are closing in on a historic double. Bayern Munich, for the first time in over a decade, will finish the season without a trophy and have a battle on their hands to even finish as runners’ up in the Bundesliga with Thomas Tuchel departing at the end of the season. 

Man of the match: Vinicius Junior. No goals and no assists for Real Madrid’s number seven but there are few players that will be able to put in as quality or as high a level performance that he did. 

EVENTS

Kick-off

Half-time

’68 | GOAL: Davies (0-1)

’71 | DISALLOWED: Davies [og]

’88 | GOAL: Joselu (1-1)

’90 | GOAL: Joselu (2-1)

’90 | DISALLOWED: De Ligt

Full-time