MADRID: Real Madrid turned to the same old story in the Champions League and even though Bayern Munich knew all of the words, they were powerless to stop the kings of Europe pulling off another improbable and yet inevitable comeback.

On yet another magical night at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadi­um on Wednesday, Joselu’s late double fired the record 14-time winners into the Wembley final on June 1, just as it seemed Bayern had set up another all-German battle as in 2013.

Real’s Jude Bellingham will face his former team Borussia Dortmund in search of the 15th, after Los Blancos returned from what he described as “dead and buried” to triumph.

“We saw ourselves in the final and now I’m lost for words,” said shell-shocked Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

“Madrid are immortal,” wrote Spanish newspaper Marca. “The eternal miracle,” proclaimed another capital publication, AS.

Real will be firm favourites to extend their dominance in Europe after reaching their sixth Champions League final in the last 11 years and winning five of the last 10.

Regardless of whether they are outplayed, as by Manchester City in the quarter-finals, or on the verge of elimination, as against Bayern, Real so often find a way where other teams would wither.

Alphonso Davies’ second-half strike had Bayern dreaming of a 2013 final rematch against Bundesliga rivals Dortmund, but journeyman forward Joselu intervened in the dying embers of the match.

Joselu, whose career has incl­uded spells at clubs such as Hoffenheim, Eintracht Fran­kfurt, Hannover 96, Stoke City and Newcastle United, only touched the ball a few times in their 2-1 second-leg win, but it was a night he is likely to remember for a long time.

He pounced on a rare mistake by Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer and stabbed the ball into the net to equalise for Real in the 88th minute and two minutes later he volleyed them into the lead from a cross by Antonio Ruediger to snatch a 4-3 aggregate victory.

“I don’t know anything about being a hero, but I’m very happy... You can imagine,” Joselu, on loan from second division side Espanyol, said. “It was incredible, something spectacular. This team never gives up, it’s in its blood to fight to the end and that’s what we’ve done. You always dream of this kind of performance, but not even my most beautiful dreams are as big as what happened today.”

It will be Real’s record-extending 18th European Cup final, and ninth in the Champions League era, also a record.

“It’s happened again — it’s happened so often,” marvelled Real’s Carlo Ancelotti, a four-time winner of the trophy as a coach. “Fans who push us on, a fantastic stadium, players who never stop believing — it’s simply something magical.”

Real have enjoyed many spectacular comebacks over the years but the last time they lifted the trophy, in 2022, their run to the final defied belief at every step.

However the match which sprang to mind most readily was Real’s previous victory over Bayern in 2018, when goalkeeper Sven Ulreich made an inexplicable error to allow Karim Benzema in.

This time it was veteran Neuer, who had excelled throughout, who suddenly found himself spilling a shot he would usually contain comfortably and Joselu pounced.

“It’s extremely bitter for me,” the 38-year-old Neuer said to DAZN. “I expected the ball to land a bit differently to my chest but it went a bit higher and it was difficult to get a hold of it. And then Joselu was there quicker and it was difficult to defend. For a goalkeeper who’s been around for a while it’s something I’ve already experienced, but the goal was brutal.”

Fellow goalkeepers will have sympathy after they all committed high-profile errors against Real in recent years, contributing to Los Blancos’ burgeoning trophy cabinet.

AC Milan, with seven Cham­pions League wins, are Real’s closest contenders on exactly half the Spanish giants’ tally.

Final opponents Dortmund have lifted the trophy on just one occasion, back in 1997, and few will give them a chance against the might of Madrid.

Since ending an 11-year dry spell by winning their 10th Champions League during Ancelotti’s first spell at the helm a decade ago, Madrid have not looked back.

“We always believe in ourselves... it happened again and we’re going for the 15th,” said Vinicius Junior, who scored the goal that won Real’s 14th.

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Bayern’s elimination, meanwhile, will kick-start a summer of soul-searching with the German giants facing an uncertain future.

Just 12 months away from hosting the Champions League final at their Allianz Arena home, Bayern will begin a summer rebuild without knowing who will be in the coaching dugout next season.

Dethroned as German champions for the first time in 11 years by Xabi Alonso’s rampant Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern’s Champions League run offered a sense of salvation for a club in a mire largely of their own making.

Bayern agreed to part ways with manager Thomas Tuchel in February after falling behind Leverkusen in the title race. Despite talk of a “mutual decision” Tuchel at the time said he would have preferred to stay in the role.

While Tuchel’s stock has since risen after taking Bayern to within minutes of a Champions League final, several candidates have already knocked back a chance to replace him as coach.

The last-minute elimination, headlined by referee frustrations and the uncharacteristic error by Neuer, means a first trophyless season since 2012 and Bayern Munich were left fuming following a late offside decision.

Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt had stabbed in what he thought was a stoppage time equaliser that would have taken the game into extra time.

Yet the linesman had already flagged for offside and the referee blown his whistle before De Ligt let fly, with Real seeing out the match.

“I think it’s pretty clear and there is no doubt that is against the rules of modern football,” Tuchel said. “A disaster. An absolute disaster. With Real’s second goal, they let the play continue. The clear rule is that the scene must continue. The first mistake was made by the linesman, the second by the referee,” he said.

De Ligt said the linesman had apologised to him after the game.

“Very difficult. Of course as sportspeople we accept it,” said Tuchel. “But it is a semi-final, it’s not for two such violations of the rule. Everyone has to be at their limit. The referees have to be there as well. That is what we expect. So the apology does not really help.”

Tuchel had previously left the door ajar to staying at Bayern beyond the season, but said on Wednesday night “it’s no secret that I loved my time in the Premier League with Chelsea and in England.”

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2024