Joselu’s late double took Real Madrid into their 18th European Cup final at the expense of Bayern München, the 14-time winners producing another memorable semi-final turnaround at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu to set up a final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on 1 June.
Unlike the first-leg draw in Bavaria, Carlo Ancelotti’s men looked to dictate play from the off and dominated proceedings early on, with Vinícius Júnior the outlet they looked to exploit up front.
Having scored twice in Munich, the Brazilian tested Manuel Neuer with the first effort of an intense opening period, the 38-year-old goalkeeper getting the slightest of touches to turn a low strike onto the inside of his post. The Bayern No1 swiftly recovered to gather Rodrgyo’s attempt from the rebound at the second time of asking.
It took Bayern until just before the half-hour to respond, Harry Kane’s deft volley forcing Andriy Lunin to tip around the upright at full stretch.
The pace of Bayern substitute Alphonso Davies, on as a first-half replacement for the injured Serge Gnabry, stretched the home defence and the replacement’s deflected strike early in the second half flew over Lunin but looped onto the roof of the Ukrainian’s net.
The two sides swapped attacking blows with increasing regularity, Vinícius Júnior cutting in from the left touchline to gallop into the area before picking out Rodrygo, who could only prod wide. Neuer then proved equal to Rodrygo’s curling free-kick before Vinícius Júnior forced an acrobatic save after a mazy run from the left.
But it was the speed and powerful running of Bayern’s Davies that brought about the opening goal. Racing onto Kane’s lofted ball from just inside the Bavarians’ half, the Canadian international dropped his shoulder to fool Antonio Rüdiger and shift possession onto his right, before curling brilliantly into the far corner.
The home side pressed for an equaliser, and Vinícius Júnior scooped over after Rüdiger had delivered the ball over the top of the Bayern back line, but Madrid, who had scored in every knockout stage home match in this tournament stretching back to April 2011, were not to be denied.
It was one of Ancelotti’s substitutes who swung the game back their way. Joselu, sent on with just over ten minutes remaining, was quickest to react when Neuer was unable to hold Vinícius Júnior’s powerful shot.
