May 5, 2022, and May 9, 2024. What do these two dates have in common? Real Madrid were down and out in the second leg of an UCL semi-final but found a way to bounce back against all odds and deliver a sensational comeback. It was Rodrygo two years ago, and it was Joselu this time around with a brace that made sure Real Madrid were on their way to a record 15th UCL title.
UCL knockouts and Real Madrid are a love story written in stars and are better than everything else in this world. Before the second-leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich kicked off, the score was tied at 2-2, and both teams needed a miraculous effort or two to reach the final at Wembley.
Madrid began the match on an attacking note, with Vinicius already in the Bayern box in the first minute of the match, but Neuer and his men answered with a solid defense. Until the first half, both teams tried their chances and came very close to taking the lead in the match, but it just did not happen.
🏆 ¡El Real Madrid ofrecerá el domingo la Liga 36! #36Ligas
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 10, 2024
The managers started getting desperate, which was visible in their substitution changes, which started very early in the match. This strategy turned out pretty well for Bayern, as in the 68th minute of the match, Alphonso Davies made phenomenal use of his wrong foot and hit a goal for the ages. It immediately put Real Madrid under pressure.
Madrid soon fought back with a strike, but it was denied by VAR as Nacho did a foul on Kimmich in the Bayern box. Madrid constantly tried but were denied a few chances by the woodwork.The football world had almost thought that Bayern had done the unthinkable, but soon Joselu replaced Rodrygo and did what the man he replaced did two years ago.
🤩🔥 ¡HISTORIA QUE TÚ HICISTE!
📲 @JoseluMato9#APorLa15 | #UCL pic.twitter.com/MMJQIzbw6H— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 10, 2024
Within a span of three minutes, Real Madrid scored two sensational goals that came off Joselu’s legs and reminded Bayern of who they were playing against. These two strikes made the whole Bernabeu go wild, as Madrid were once again in the lead. In injury time, Bayern were close to leveling it once again, but a controversial off-side decision against them destroyed all the hopes.
They just do it every time, don’t they, Real Madrid? They are down in their haunches but somehow find a way to get back up and deliver a counterpunch. They will now be facing Borussia Dortmund in the UCL 2023–24 final.
