After a thrilling 2-2 first leg, “Joker” Alfonso Davies led coach Thomas Tuchel’s Munich side into the final. But Joselu, an 81st-minute substitute, fired coach Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid into the final with a brace (88th, 91st) in a furious finale.
Bayern, who are without a title for the first time in twelve years, are back in contention with the Madrid giants after 2014 (semi-final), 2017 (quarter-final) and 2018 (semi-final). There will be an Austrian fight in three weeks, at least on paper. Sabitzer could become the sixth Austrian professional player to win the most important European competition with BVB.
In the eagerly-anticipated second leg, Tuchel surprisingly relied on youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic; Also, attacker Serge Gnabry started in place of Thomas Müller, and a fit-again Matthijs de Ligt started in defense for Minjae Kim, who missed out in the first leg. At Real, right-back Daniel Carvajal was the only player to return to Ancelotti’s 4-3-3 after suspension.
In front of nearly 80,000 fans at a sold-out Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Real were the more dynamic side early on. A Carvajal Stankel pass was absent (6th), while Gnabry suffered the same fate at the other end (8th). In the 13th minute, Bayern’s goal was shaken for the first time, as Vinicius Jr. hit the inside bar after making contact with Manuel Neuer’s fingertips from a tight angle. Rodrigo’s follow-up shot was also saved by the Bayern goalkeeper.
Harry Kane struck dangerously for the German series champions less than half an hour later, and the goalscorer saved Real goalkeeper Andrij Lunin with a volley on the edge of the penalty area (28th). A little while ago, Gnabry left the pitch due to injury. Ancelotti’s side continued to control the game and it was Neuer again who canceled out an increasingly long Vinicius cross at the last moment (40th).
After the break, a deflected shot by Alphonso Davies flew just over the Real goal (47th). Moments later, Madrid were centimeters away from celebrating their goal, and Rodrigo Vinicius headed home a Stankel pass from far (55′). The atmosphere in the stadium did justice to the importance of the game and both teams looked to set a tone. In the 59th minute, Neuer converted a Rodrigo free kick and a minute later Vinicius scored.
The man who scored a double in the first leg played several times with Bayern right-back Kimmich on the left wing. But it was Davies, who has been out of form lately, who turned the game around. After a long Cane pass, the 23-year-old winger moved into the penalty area and finished unstoppable. Due to Nacho’s clear drive against Kimmich, according to video footage, the Madrilenians were forced to draw, with referee Simone Marciniak disallowing a goal.
The hosts, who had the better of the game, were able to celebrate after Neuer, who had been in good form earlier, made a mistake and allowed Joselu to equalize with a Vinicius shot. In the 91st minute, 34-year-old Rudiger pushed a cross over the bar and made himself the semi-final hero. After the final whistle, in a tight situation near the penalty area (104th), Bayern were irritated by a premature offside whistle, and minutes later De Ligt put the ball in the Real goal. “To blow up a scene like this is unbelievable,” Mueller said.
