Real Madrid in the final against BVB: FC Bayern collapsed in the last minutes of the CL semi-final

Real Madrid in the final against BVB
FC Bayern collapsed in the last minutes of the CL semi-final

May 8, 2024, 11:01 p.m

FC Bayern led Real Madrid until the 88th minute. Then the semi-final second leg of the Champions League takes a dramatic turn. Manuel Neuer makes a serious mistake, the Royals strike again in stoppage time – and move into the final against Borussia Dortmund.

FC Bayern’s big dream of a reunion at Wembley has shattered after a brutal double blow in the final minutes. The Munich team literally allowed themselves to be eaten up by European Cup monster Real Madrid in a dramatic final phase in the semi-finals of the Champions League and missed the huge opportunity to follow the sky-strikers from Borussia Dortmund into the final in London. A mistake by Manuel Neuer, who had been outstanding for a long time, led to the bitter end. Initially, however, the anger over a whistle shortly before the end of the 15-minute stoppage time prevailed.

“I find it unbelievable, I can’t understand why he doesn’t let the game play through, he also said: Sorry,” said Matthijs de Ligt after the dramatic 1:2 (0:0) about the referee’s controversial decision in stoppage time at DAZN. Referee Szymon Marciniak from Poland had blown off a Bayern attack prematurely for offside, and the subsequent goal from de Ligt for the supposed equalizer did not count. “We played a decent game for ninety minutes. Very mature, very compact. It’s a shame that the game is being given away like that ” he added.

Coach Thomas Tuchel’s team, which was far too timid for a long time, lost 1-2 (0-0) to their feared opponents in the second leg in the “hell” of Bernabeu and will have to watch on June 1st as the Royal team compete with BVB for the coveted title Arguing with handles. The surprising lead thanks to a dream goal from Joker Alphonso Davies (68th) didn’t help either – also because Neuer couldn’t hold on to a shot from Vinicius Junior before Joselu equalized (88th). Four minutes later, the former Hanoverian struck again. The Bernabeu shook.

Tuchel had suspected it: “Real never dies”

In the 28th “Clasico de Campeones” Bayern missed a victory over Real for the eighth time in a row, which after the 2-2 draw in the first leg would have guaranteed a place in the final without extra time and penalties. Madrid, with Toni Kroos, who is ineffective this time, and defense chief Antonio Rüdiger, is challenging a German team in the final of the premier class for the third time after Frankfurt 1960 (7:3) and Leverkusen 2002 (2:1). Rüdiger provided the assist for the winning goal.

“These are the moments and days that you dream of,” said Tuchel before kick-off on DAZN – similar to what he had told his team the evening before. But while Bayern dreamed too much, Madrid seemed to believe in their chance of reaching the final. “Real never dies,” as they say.

The Munich team found a second home in the dressing room; the changing room was decorated in their colors under the motto “We fight in black for everyone in red”. Inside the football temple, however, the Bavarians, including former bosses Oliver Kahn (with a beer) and Hasan Salihamidžić (in a jersey), were welcomed under the closed roof by a heated atmosphere. Sports director Max Eberl’s hope of “putting this thing to rest” with courage and courage did not come true.

Gnabry has to leave the field early injured

As coach Carlo Ancelotti demanded, Real played “with brains” and a lot of speed. Tuchel’s courageous formation without veterans Thomas Müller and Leon Goretzka had difficulty holding back. In the few early pinpricks, Kroos saved from Leroy Sané (5th) or Serge Gnabry failed to find striker Harry Kane (8th). After a throw-in, only Neuer and the post prevented the first leg double from Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo from making it 1-0 (13th). Tuchel waved his arms: “Wake up!”

In the 27th minute, Tuchel’s plan to come down the wings with “aggressiveness” was finally abandoned. Gnabry had to go down injured, Davies came on. A shot from Kane (28′) narrowly missed the goal, but Bayern continued to make life difficult for themselves with unnecessary passing errors.

Tuchel complained and complained. Also because there was no creativity coming from his midfield center with Konrad Laimer and Aleksandar Pavlovic and magic foot Jamal Musiala was hanging in the air. The break helped at first, but Real were soon back in control. The tricky Vinicius did whatever he wanted with Joshua Kimmich. Neuer thwarted a number of best opportunities – until the counterattack from Davies, who scored with a curling shot.

Madrid’s supposed equalizer through an own goal by Davies (71′) was not recognized because of a previous foul by Nacho on Kimmich. But in a hectic final phase, Real hit Bayern cold in the heart.