Just when you think Real Madrid are out of the Champions League, they drag themselves back in. On Wednesday, for the umpteenth time in their long and illustrious history, the kings of Europe turned around a tie that appeared to be lost, coming from a goal down with two minutes to play against Bayern Munich to triumph 2-1 and set up a final showdown with Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on June 1.
Madrid had been the better side for the most of an absorbing semi-final second leg at Santiago Bernabeu, but could find no way past an inspired Manuel Neuer, who was rolling back the years with an exhibition in the art of shot-stopping.
However, the Bayern No.1 then inexplicably fumbled the ball in front of Joselu, who pounced to level the game – before striking again from close range in injury time to complete the kind of dramatic comeback that now feels customary coming from Madrid.
Goal runs through all of the winners and losers from another ridiculously eventful night at the home of the 14-time champions of Europe…
Who needs Kylian Mbappe?… When Madrid lost Karim Benzema last summer, it was widely assumed that they would bring in an elite striker to replace him. Instead, enter Joselu; a 34-year-old who flopped in the Premier League at Newcastle and Stoke City.
But the big man has earned his minutes this year, and scored a number of timely goals for Los Blancos. Wednesday, though, was his biggest triumph – and surely the defining moment of his journeyman career.
Joselu scored twice – his 15th and 16th goals of the season – in the space of three minutes to send Madrid to the Champions League final, etching his name into club folklore, and setting up what could be a 15th European Cup for the continent’s most successful club side.
