Real Madrid rally late to beat Bayern

MADRID, Spain (AP):

With more late drama and another magical night at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Real Madrid rallied to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 yesterday to reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons.

Joselu scored in the 88th minute and then in stoppage time for the record 14-time European champions, who advanced 4-3 on aggregate to set up a final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1 in London.

Bayern had taken the lead on an Alphonso Davies goal in the 68th.

Joselu's first goal was a tap in after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer spilled an easy save. The second was initially called off for offside but was, eventually allowed after a video review.

It will be Madrid's record-extending 18th European Cup final, and ninth in the Champions League era, also a record. Madrid beat Liverpool when they last made it to the final in 2022, a season marked by several late comebacks like the one they pulled off yesterday.

Six-time European champions Bayern were looking to return to the final for the first time since winning the competition in 2019-20. The loss meant there will be no rematch of the all-German final in 2013 when Bayern beat Dortmund to win their fifth European title.

Dortmund the 1997 European champions, eliminated Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 on aggregate on Tuesday.

It was a mostly even match but Madrid created the most significant scoring chances. They could not get past what was a terrific performance by Neuer, at least not until the final minutes.

The German international dropped an easy ball after a shot by Vinicius Junior, and Joselu - who came off the bench in the 81st - equalised from in front of the goal. The German-born striker then gave Madrid the lead a minute into stoppage time after a cross by Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger off the left side.

The linesman initially raised the flag for offside, and it took a few moments before Madrid players and the crowd at the Bernabeu could celebrate the winner.