Super-sub Joselu shows Real 'heart'

MADRID — Real Madrid showed "heart" to produce a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich on Wednesday and reach the Champions League final, with Joselu striking twice in the dying minutes, to claim a 2-1 win on the night, and 4-3 on aggregate.

Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giant ahead in the second half, but record 14-time winner Madrid mounted a sensational comeback with journeyman striker Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.

Spanish champion Real Madrid faces another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after it tamed the team it calls its "black beast".

"It's something magical, there's no explanation," said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, reveling in another electric night in the Spanish capital.

Back-up option Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name into Madrid's history books with his lastgasp brace, giving Europe's comeback king another night to remember.

" (The comeback) was with feeling and with heart, as the coach told us — you have to win games with heart," said Joselu.

"Not even my sweetest dreams are as big as what happened today," Joselu told Real Madrid TV.

"I don't know about hero, but I am very happy. It was incredible, something spectacular.

"This team never gives up, it's in their blood to fight until the end, and that's what we did."

Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match, but it seemed Davies' superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.

Instead Joselu consigned Bayern to a first trophyless season since 2012, his first goal coming after a handling error from Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had superbly kept Madrid at bay until that point.

" (Before that) there were world-class saves after world class saves, but that can happen, it's football," said Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt.

High-intensity

Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka, but the host dominated the opening stages.

Neuer produced a superb double save to stop Madrid nosing in front, tipping the electric Vinicius Junior's effort onto the post and then saving Rodrygo's follow-up.

Bayern's Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him, before England captain Harry Kane's first dangerous flash, but Andriy Lunin pushed his vicious volley around the post.

Neuer palmed away a Vinicius freekick, as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half on level terms.

The second period was just as fraught, with Davies' cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin's goal.

Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid's left, and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonizingly wide of the far post.

The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark, as Madrid ratcheted up the pressure.

However, just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.

On 68 minutes, Canada international Davies cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner.

Real Madrid thought it had leveled moments later through Nacho, but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich's face before shooting.

Inexplicably, Tuchel took the ever-threatening Kane, who is left still chasing the first trophy of his career, off in the final stages, in a straight swap with Cameroon striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in a bid to ensure victory, but to no avail.

'Bitter' disappointment

Ancelotti, sacked by Bayern in 2017, has kept Madrid's squad players engaged and committed to the cause all season, and it paid dividends at a crucial time.

Neuer, who had been sublime all game, fumbled what appeared to be a simple Vinicius strike, and substitute Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.

"We had one foot in London, we saw ourselves going through to the final," lamented the goalkeeper.

With Bayern reeling, Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second-division side Espanyol, turning home an Antonio Rudiger cut back.

The goal was initially ruled offside, but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid clinched the chance to play for a 15th Champions League trophy.

"There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that 'never say die' mentality," said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Bayern, however, was left raging at full time after De Ligt netted, but play had already been stopped for an offside flag against Noussair Mazraoui.

"I don't want to say that it's always the referee's mistake with Real Madrid, but that made the difference today," grumbled De Ligt, saying play should have been allowed to continue.

"It's bitter, completely bitter," said Tuchel.

AFP