Borussia Dortmund will face record winners Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
FC Bayern’s dream of a reunion at Wembley was shattered after a brutal double blow in the final minutes. In the semi-finals of the Champions League, the Munich side allowed themselves to be literally eaten up by European Cup monsters Real Madrid in a dramatic final phase and missed out on the huge opportunity to follow Borussia Dortmund’s sky-scrapers into the final in London. A blunder by Manuel Neuer, who had been outstanding for a long time, led to the bitter end.
Coach Thomas Tuchel’s team, which was far too timid for long stretches, lost 2:1 (0:0) to their fearsome opponents in the second leg in the “hell” of the Bernabeu and will have to watch the Whites battle it out with BVB for the coveted trophy on June 1. Even the surprise lead thanks to a dream goal from joker Alphonso Davies (68′) did not help – not least because Neuer was unable to keep out a shot from Vinicius Junior before Joselu equalized (88′). Four minutes later, the former Hannover player struck again. The Bernabeu shook.
In the 28th “Clasico de Campeones”, Bayern missed out on an eighth successive victory over Real, which was so desperately needed after the 2-2 draw in the first leg. Madrid, with Toni Kroos and defender Antonio Rüdiger both ineffective this time, are challenging a German team in the final of the premier class for the third time after Frankfurt in 1960 (7-3) and Leverkusen in 2002 (2-1). Rüdiger provided the assist for the winning goal.
“These are the moments and days you dream about,” said Tuchel before kick-off on DAZN – similar to what he had already told his team the night before. But while Bayern were dreaming too much, Madrid seemed to believe in their chances of reaching the final. “Real never dies”, as the saying goes.
The Munich team found a second home in the dressing room, which was decorated in their colors under the motto “We fight in black for everyone in red”. Inside the soccer temple, however, the Bavarians, including former bosses Oliver Kahn (with a beer) and Hasan Salihamidzic (in a jersey), were greeted by a heated atmosphere under the closed roof. The hope of sporting director Max Eberl to “calm things down here” with courage and boldness was not fulfilled.
As coach Carlo Ancelotti had demanded, Real played “with brains” and plenty of pace. Tuchel’s courageous formation without veterans Thomas Müller and Leon Goretzka struggled to hold out. Kroos saved from Leroy Sane in the few early pinpricks (5′) or Serge Gnabry failed to find striker Harry Kane (8′).
After a throw-in, only Neuer and the post prevented Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo from making it 1-0 (13′). Tuchel waved his arms: “Wake up!”
In the 27th minute, Tuchel’s plan to use “aggression” on the wings finally came to nothing. Gnabry had to come off injured, Davies came on. A shot from Kane (28) narrowly missed the goal, but Bayern continued to make life difficult for themselves with unnecessary mistakes.
Tuchel grumbled and complained. Not least because his central midfield pairing of Konrad Laimer and Aleksandar Pavlovic lacked any creativity and magic foot Jamal Musiala was left hanging in the air.
The break helped at first, but Real were soon back in the driving seat. The tricky Vinicius did what he wanted with Joshua Kimmich. Neuer thwarted a succession of chances – until the counter-attack by Davies, who scored with a flick.
Madrid’s supposed equalizer through an own goal by Davies (71′) was disallowed due to a previous foul by Nacho on Kimmich. But in a hectic final phase, Real struck Bayern cold in the heart