Real Madrid 2 Bayern Munich 1 (After extra-time. 2-1 after 90 mins. Aggregate 3-3. Bayern win 3-1 on pens):BAYERN MUNICH ended Real Madrid's bid for a 10th European crown when they eliminated the Spaniards 3-1 on penalties in a nerve-jangling semi-final second leg at the Bernabeu last night.
With the sides locked at 3-3 on aggregate after Real’s 2-1 win, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was the hero for the Bundesliga side when he saved Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka’s spot kicks in a dramatic shootout.
Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas then revived Real’s hopes by saving efforts from Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm but after Sergio Ramos skied his penalty over the bar Bastian Schweinsteiger rifled home to send the Bavarians through.
Bayern will now face Chelsea in next month’s final in Munich – in their home stadium – after the London club eliminated holders Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate on Tuesday night.
Madrid had pulled Bayern back and then taken the lead, Bayern had recovered and then Jose Mourinho’s team had hung on in a match that was as frantic as it was fantastic.
Madrid were ahead after just six minutes. Angel Di Maria received a diagonal ball floated towards the right side of the area and took it on the volley, first time. It struck the arm of David Alaba, sliding in to block. Ronaldo succeeded where Lionel Messi had failed the night before, scoring from the penalty.
Madrid were one up already and it was not even their first chance. That had come in the third minute when Xabi Alonso’s wonderful long diagonal ball travelled from left to right and Di Maria brought it down and pulled it back for Sami Khedira. The German’s shot was tame.
Mourinho had insisted before the game that he expected Bayern to attack because they would anticipate a Madrid goal; now they had to. This was the genesis of a brilliant first half: fast, open, and full of chances. Robben somehow put the ball over the bar from three yards, Mario Gomez’s shot was saved by Iker Casillas and Franck Ribery was blocked by Khedira. In the blink of an eye, Madrid were two up.
Mesut Ozil found Ronaldo in the area and he struck it low past Manuel Neuer. It was his 10th Champions League goal of an incredible season, his 56th overall.
It was all over, or so it seemed, but Bayern responded well. Robben, Gomez and Luiz Gustavo all had efforts before Toni Kroos, always playing with dangerous intent, crossed from the right; Gomez was bearing down on goal and Pepe was bearing down on him. Viktor Kassai, the Hungarian referee, paused and pointed to the spot for the second time. Robben stared at the goalkeeper who denied him in the World Cup final. His penalty was so well placed that it sneaked in despite Casillas’s guessing right and almost reaching his own post.
The tie was level, the game was open. Breathless. There was space and there were chances, the noise was ear-shattering. Both sides pressured high, running at each other, trading blows. It was Bayern who were landing marginally more of them, though.
It had reached the point where anything could happen. Gomez missed the half’s best chance when Toni Kroos cut a clever ball into his path; one on one with Casillas, he hit the goalkeeper’s body. And right on the stroke of half time there was another chance and another Casillas save: a neat move ended with Robben felled on the edge of the area. His deflected free kick flew through a crowded penalty area and the goalkeeper pushed it away. The first half ended as it had been played: with chances.
The second started in much the same manner, Gomez’s header drifting just wide. Ribery was caught by Alvaro Arbeloa as he threatened to get away up the left wing and into the wide space behind. He and Robben frightened Madrid every time they ran at them and it continued to be Bayern, pressing hard, pushing Madrid deep, that had more of the ball. Twice shots were charged down on the edge of the Madrid area, and Gomez glanced a header wide.
Some of the Germans’ play was wonderful: the touch and interchange, always at pace, always with intent, concerned the home side. The noise though never abated and nor did the threat. It is Madrid’s nature that their menace is always present.
Kaka came on to help Madrid seek it but Jupp Heynckes’s side did not desist. Then, in the 85th minute, Robben turned inside and found Gomez eight or nine yards out. It appeared to be the moment they had waited for but he hesitated and was crowded out.
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Alonso, Khedira, Di Maria (Kaka 75), Ozil (Granero 111), Ronaldo, Benzema (Higuain 106). Subs not used: Adan, Fabio Coentrao, Albiol, Callejon. Booked: Pepe, Arbeloa, Granero.
BAYERN MUNICH: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Alaba, Gustavo, Schweinsteiger, Ribery (Muller 95), Kroos, Robben, Gomez. Subs not used: Butt, Olic, Rafinha, Pranjic, Contento, Tymoschuk. Booked: Alaba, Robben, Gustavo, Badstuber.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary).
