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regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

Inexplicable, magical: Coach Carlo Ancelotti hails Real Madrid comeback in Champions League final

The 14-time European champions pulled off another thrilling comeback on Wednesday, rallying to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 and reach the final for the second time in three seasons

AP/PTI Madrid Published 10.05.24, 09:35 AM
Joselu scores the winner for Real Madrid against Bayern Munich during the Champions League semi-final second-leg match at the Bernabeu on Wednesday

Joselu scores the winner for Real Madrid against Bayern Munich during the Champions League semi-final second-leg match at the Bernabeu on Wednesday Getty Images

After yet another magical night at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Real Madrid are back in the Champions League final.

The 14-time European champions pulled off another thrilling comeback on Wednesday, rallying to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 and reach the final for the second time in three seasons. They meet Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on June 1 at the Wembley in London.

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Like it happened so many times in 2022, Madrid needed some late drama to advance.

Joselu scored in the 88th minute and then in stoppage time as Madrid advanced 4-3 on aggregate to set up a final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1 in London.

“Well, it has happened again what has happened so many times before," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "It's inexplicable. Fans who push us on, a fantastic stadium, players who never stop believing — it's simply something magical.”

Bayern had taken the lead on an Alphonso Davies goal in the 68th — and then deep in stoppage time thought it had equalised but hadn't because of an offside call that Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel described as “disastrous” and “against the rules.”

Joselu's first goal was a tap-in after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer spilled an easy save. The second was initially called off for offside but was eventually allowed after video review.

It will be Madrid's record-extending 18th European Cup final, and ninth in the Champions League era, also a record. Madrid beat Liverpool when they last made it to the final in 2022, a season marked by several late comebacks like that one it pulled off on Wednesday.

Madrid at the time pulled off thrilling comebacks at the Bernabeu against Manchester City in the semi-finals, Chelsea in the quarter finals and PSG in the round-of-16.

“It hurts. It'll take a while to recover, but on the one hand it's a loss where we left it all out on the pitch," Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said. “Of course, it's tough to accept. It's part of reality. No regrets.”

It was a mostly even match but Madrid created the most significant scoring chances. But it had not been able to get past what was a terrific performance by Neuer, who had made a series of difficult saves to keep Bayern in the match.

But the German international faltered in the final minutes, dropping an easy ball after a shot by Vinicius Junior and allowing Joselu — who came off the bench in the 81st — to equalise from in front of the goal.

“Manu made a mistake he wouldn't make in another 100 years,” Tuchel said.

Neuer said “anyone who's ever played football knows how I'm feeling right now.”

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