Champions League: Joselu's Double Leads Real Madrid In Comeback To Beat Bayern Munich To Reach Final

 

Real Madrid have secured their place in the final of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season, score two closing minutes goals from Joselu's efforts that completed the side's 2-1 comeback victory to beat Bayern Munich for an aggregate lead of 4-3 in the second-leg tie at Bernabeu Stadium.

After playing through a goalless first half, Bayern moved ahead to lead from Alphonso Davies' sensational curly shot into the top corner of the goal. Minutes later, Real had Valverde's goal from a deflection on De Ligt canceled for a foul offence on Kimmich. 

The game was near going the way of Bayern with two minutes to stoppage time before Neuer's poorly save of Vinicius's shot bounced into on-rushing Joselu's path and tapped the ball into the net for the equaliser. Antonio Rudiger later set up the winner, with a cross that found Joselu for a tap in past Neuer from close range. 

Real have remained unbeaten against Bayern Munich in previous 18 meetings and have sealed their place in the UEFA Champions League final for the 18th time. They will meet Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley Stadium on July, 1. 

Overview

Exceptional performance from Real from the start, even after sliding behind their opponents, they seized a moment of importance to build up a comeback with a combination of efforts from Modric  and Vinicius that made closing minutes equaliser an easy one for Joselu - Rudiger had since the first half been making those crosses until he found an effective one with Joselu that settled the victory. 

Bayern really had a tough game on their hands, and had for multiple times, had Neuer forced good saves of Vinicius' efforts. Excellent defending from Bayern to have kept the deadlock through the first period, but for the Brazilian duo, Vinicius and Rodrygo they constantly switched positions to sustain Real's attack through the game. 

The introduction of Modric in the second period really worked out well in the midfield for Ancelotti, and for Bayern, Tomas Tuchel must have intended to bolster the team with Thomas Muller in the closing stages but that didn't work with Real.