Joselu inspires Madrid to epic late comeback to reach Champions League final

Joselu scored a remarkable last-gasp double as Real Madrid came back from the brink to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 at the Bernabeu and reach the 2024 UEFA Champions League final.

The veteran striker came off the bench to poach a brace of close-range goals right at the death and secure an incredible 4-3 success on aggregate after Bayern substitute Alphonso Davies had put the visitors on the verge of the final.

Real were the better side for long spells and had the best chance of a tight first half, but Manuel Neuer produced a smart save to deny Rodrygo after Vinicius Junior’s shot had come back off the post.

Neuer continued to produce heroics in the second period as Los Blancos turned the screw and another excellent stop saw him deny the dangerous Vinicius Jr.

It paved the way for Bayern to hit the 14-time winners on the break, with Davies picking the perfect moment to net his first goal in the competition when he cut in from the left and rifled home on 68 minutes.

Real’s hopes looked over but they always find a way in this competition and substitute Joselu gobbled up an error from Neuer to level on 88 minutes before tapping in at the far post in stoppage time to break German hearts.

Real will now meet Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley on June 1.

TNT Sports expert, Paul Scholes reflected on this late show from Real Madrid and suggested sometimes you can’t beat history. It was an apt summary.

When it comes to the Champions League, Los Blancos just seem to find a way. They have been outplayed and sometimes outclassed in knockout ties in previous seasons and somehow prevailed.

Manchester City will feel they were the better side in the quarter finals this term, but Real wriggled through and now they are back in yet another final.

Bayern thought the job was almost done. It had shades of the final in 1999 when they took off some of their best players against Manchester United before a deadly double blast left them heart broken. It was a cruel sense of déjà vu here for Bavarian supporters as the unlikely figure of Joselu came to Madrid’s rescue and ensure they will go into the final with Dortmund as heavy favourites to claim a record-extending 15th UCL crown.

The 34-year-old enjoyed what will probably go down as the greatest night of his career. The on-loan striker from Espanyol could have only dreamed of such a scenario a year ago, but here he was coming off the bench to turn around the semi-final and write his name into Los Blancos folklore, shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest of all-time. He wasn’t on the pitch long, but his contribution was huge.

REAL MADRID: Lunin 7, Carvajal 7, Mendy 7, Rudiger 8, Nacho 7, Valverde 7, Tchouameni 7, Bellingham 7, Kroos 8, Rodrygo 7, Vinicius Jr 8. Subs: Modric 7, Camavinga 6, Joselu 9, Diaz 7, Militao n/a.

BAYERN MUNICH: Neuer 7, Kimmich 6, Mazraoui 7, Dier 6, De Ligt 7, Laimer 7, Pavlovic 6, Musiala 6, Sane 6, Gnabry 5, Kane 6. Subs: Davies 8, Kim 6, Muller n/a, Choupo-Moting n/a.

14’ – REAL MADRID CHANCE! Confusion over a throw-in allows Real to ghost in on the right. It’s fed into the middle for Vinicius Jr who sees a low strike come back off the far post. Rodrygo attacks the rebound but can only fire straight at Neuer.

61’ – REAL MADRID CHANCE! Vinicius Jr drives in from the left, bewitching all in his wake before forcing another superb save out of Neuer with an explosive shot.

68’ – GOAL! – Real Madrid 0-1 Bayern Munich: (Davies – Bayern lead 3-2 on aggregate). That’s magnificent. Kane floats a brilliant ball to the left for Davies to gallop on to. The full back cuts inside and thunders a 15-yard strike into the far corner.

88’ – GOAL! – Real Madrid 1-1 Bayern Munich: (Joselu – It’s 3-3 on aggregate). Lifeline! Joselu gobbles up the rebound after Neuer made a mess of trying to gather Vinicius Jr’s low shot.

90+1’ – GOAL! – Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich: (Joselu – Real lead 4-3 on aggregate). What a turnaround! It’s Joselu again as he is in the right place at the right time to tuck in Rudiger’s cross at the far post. Real are heading to the final!