MADRID: Last time, it was a late pen­­alty. This time, a goalkeeping blunder.

Real Madrid keep finding ways to get out of trouble in the Champions League.

Real conceded early again at home and barely held on for a draw 2-2 against Bayern in Tuesday’s semi-final match, advancing 4-3 on aggregate to stay on track for a third consecutive European title. But with Cristiano Ronaldo held scoreless for the second time in as many games, Real needed a blunder from Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich to gift them their second and crucial goal on the night.

“It’s a Champions League semi-final. You will always suffer,” Real coach Zinedine Zidane said. “Nothing is easy. Football is like that, you have to suffer. And when you win, it feels even better, although it’s not too good for your heart.”

Joshua Kimmich scored for Bayern in the third minute to set the stage for another comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu, like the one Juventus nearly pulled off in the quarter-finals before Ronaldo converted an injury-time penalty. But the hosts reacted quicker this time, with Karim Benzema equalising early in the first half and scoring again just after halftime after an embarrassing mistake by Ulreich when he allowed a back pass into the area to go underneath him.

Bayern went within a goal of eliminating the European champions when former Real player James Rodriguez scored in the 63rd, and it pressured the hosts until the end, but it was not enough to avoid a third straight elimination against the Spanish club.

“We were the best team in both games but we were not able to reach the final,” Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said. “We dominated. They should thank (goalkeeper Keylor) Navas for his performance, especially toward the end of the match.”

The German club, who have now been knocked out in the Champions League semi-finals in four of the last five seasons, had several good chances in the final minutes but were unable to capitalise.

By successfully defending their 2-1 win from last week, Real stayed on track for a third consecutive European title, and fourth in five seasons.

Europe’s most successful club with 12 trophies, Real will play the final against either Liverpool or Roma.

“It was a crazy match,” Zidane said. “We struggled in the beginning, conceding early and not being able to play our game. But it was a lot better in the second half. We pressed up front and got the second goal.”

Bayern started well and easily created scoring chances, while Real tried to control possession but only threatened on counterattacks with the speed of Ronaldo and Marco Asensio up front.

Kimmich netted from inside the area after Real captain Sergio Ramos failed to clear a ball crossed into the area by Corentin Tolisso.

It was an eerily similar start to Real’s match against Juventus, when they conceded in the second minute while trying to protect a 3-0 first-leg advantage. Real conceded twice more in that game but eventually advanced thanks to Ronaldo’s injury-time penalty.

This time, Real reacted a lot more quickly, with Benzema equalising in the 11th with a firm header after a well-placed cross from the left by Marcelo.

Benzema hasn’t been playing regularly as a starter and was a surprise addition to the line-up by Zidane. He had scored only once in his last 12 appearances in all competitions.

“It was a perfect night for me and for everyone,” Benzema said.

The French striker gave Real a 2-1 lead after Ulreich’s howler. The goalkeeper appeared to lose his footing while trying to get to the ball and seemed to hesitate to stop it with his hands before missing it entirely as he went to the ground. That allowed Benzema to run onto the ball for an easy finish into an open net.

“It was tough to concede that goal so early in the second half,” Heynckes said. “It was a gift.”

Bayern weren’t done yet and Rodriguez equalised with a low shot from inside the area. The Colombian playmaker didn’t celebrate, instead raising his hands in an almost apologetic gesture to the home fans.

Bayern unsuccessfully appea­led for a handball by Marcelo just before halftime, when the Real defender appeared to be just inside the area.

“I’d be lying if I said the ball didn’t touch my hand,” the Brazilian left back said. “And if it touched my hand, I think it was (a penalty).”

Meanwhile Robert Lewandowski continued to struggle up front, as he went a fifth straight Champions League game without a goal for the first time in his career.

Real, playing in their 250th Champ­ions League match, are the first team to make it to three European finals in a row since Juventus from 1996-98.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2018