Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich 2-1 (4-3 on aggregate) in the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 semifinal second leg as substitute Joselu scored twice in three minutes to set up a final with Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
Bayern took the lead in the 68th minute after winning the ball deep in its half to counterattack. Harry Kane got the ball and played a long ball to substitute Alphonso Davies, who cut in from the left flank and curled it past Lunin towards the far post.
With the time running out, Madrid found the equaliser in the 88th minute when Manuel Neuer dropped the ball into the path of Joselu, after saving the initial shot from Vinicius Jr.
Three minutes later, Joselu once again found himself at the end of a pass from Rudiger. The goal was disallowed initially for offside against Rudiger but was given after VAR confirmed that the German centre-back was onside.
Earlier, Real Madrid had a chance to go ahead in the tie after Vinicius Jr hit the post after getting the ball from a quick throw-in. The ball fell back to Rodrygo, whose shot forced a good save from Neuer.
Lunin kept his side in the game after he was forced to make a great save near the half-hour mark, after a spectacular volley from Harry Kane.
At the other end, Neuer tipped away a Vinicius cross that was sneaking into the goal in the later stages of the first half.
Bayern Munich was hit with a blow when German winger Serge Gnabry was replaced by Davies after the former went down in the 26th minute holding his hamstring.
Gnabry previously suffered a muscle strain in his left hamstring in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg a few weeks ago.
Both defences were tested right at the start of the second half with Eric Dier and Dani Carvajal making crucial blocks after attempts from Vinicius and Davies respectively.
Joshua Kimmich found it difficult to handle Vinicius Jr’s threat down the left side, forcing Neuer to make save after save to keep his side in the tie, until his eventual mistake which gave away the first goal.
Real Madrid secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 final at Wembley by defeating Bayern Munich 2-1 (4-3 on aggregate) in the semifinal’s second leg. Substitute Joselu emerged as the hero, scoring twice in three minutes to propel Madrid to victory.
Bayern seized the lead in the 68th minute through a counterattack orchestrated by Harry Kane, who delivered a long ball to substitute Alphonso Davies. Davies cut inside from the left flank and expertly curled the ball past Lunin into the far corner.
Madrid leveled the score in the 88th minute when Manuel Neuer spilled a shot from Vinicius Jr, allowing Joselu to pounce on the loose ball. Just three minutes later, Joselu struck again, receiving a pass from Rudiger and slotting the ball home. Initially disallowed for offside against Rudiger, the goal was awarded after VAR confirmed the onside position of the German defender.
Earlier in the match, Vinicius Jr hit the post from a quick throw-in, with Rodrygo’s subsequent shot saved by Neuer. Lunin made a crucial save near the half-hour mark to deny Harry Kane’s spectacular volley, while Neuer intervened to tip away a dangerous Vinicius cross later in the first half.
Bayern suffered a setback when Serge Gnabry was forced off with a hamstring injury in the 26th minute, prompting his replacement by Davies. Gnabry had previously sustained a similar injury in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Arsenal.
Both teams’ defenses were tested early in the second half, with Eric Dier and Dani Carvajal making vital blocks to thwart Vinicius and Davies, respectively. Despite Neuer’s heroics in goal, his mistake ultimately led to Madrid’s opening goal, securing their passage to the final.
