Hello, my name is Louis Wright and this evening I will be giving you a minute-by-minute report on the huge semi-final second leg clash between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Following a well fought 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena last Tuesday, Real Madrid will be looking to capitalise and extend their eight-game unbeaten run against Bayern in the competition. Real Madrid also have an impressive unbeaten home run against the German giants in the Champions League, where Bayern have failed to win at the Santiago Bernabeu in their last seven meetings.
Both sides will be fighting to face underdogs Borussia Dortmund in the final, after an impressive defensive display at the Parc des Princes last night saw them progress against PSG with a 2-0 aggregate win. If Bayern are to progress, we would see a repeat of the all German final that took place in 2013 also at Wembley, where they took victory against their Bundesliga rivals.
Since knocking out holders Manchester City, Real Madrid have become overwhelming favourites to win the competition, furthermore following the exit of Paris Saint-Germain. If Bayern are to win against the odds tonight, it would be safe to presume they will need a good performance from Harry Kane, who is one goal away (29) from equalling Wayne Rooney (30) as the all-time top English goal scorer in Champions League/ European Cup history.
18:09 BST: Real Madrid announce their starting XI.
18:52 BST: Bayern Munich announce their starting XI.
1′ KICK OFF: Szymon Marciniak gets the game underway at the Bernabeu.
1′ Real Madrid start aggressively as Vinicius Jr. wins a corner within the first 30 seconds.
5′ Eric Dier is dispossessed just outside the Bayern box, but the chance is not converted and the ball eventually goes out for a Madrid throw in.
6′ Dani Carvajal puts the ball into a dangerous area but no one can convert as the ball flew across the face of the goal.
6′ Jude Bellingham goes down in the box following a challenge from Joshua Kimmich, but no penalty given.
8′ A similar chance wasted at the opposite end as Harry Kane cannot reach a driven cross from Serge Gnabry that left the ball rolling past an open goal following a dangerous counter attack.
12′ FOUL: Vinicius Jr. wins a free kick following a challenge from Konrad Laimer.
13′ Carvajal finds Vinicius Jr. in space as he fires a shot into the inside of the post from inside the penalty area, Rodrygo fails to convert the rebound as Manuel Neuer performs a double save.
16′ Real Madrid are running proceedings with 70% possession early on, Bayern are looking threatening on the counter.
20′ FOUL: Federico Valverde impedes Konrad Laimer in the Bayern half.
23′ FOUL: Jude Bellingham is taken down by Matthijs De Ligt in his own half.
23′ Rodrygo breaks into a dangerous area on the right hand side and squares the ball to Vinicius Jr. in the penalty area, who’s loose touch let him down.
26′ Serge Gnabry has gone down off the ball and is receiving on-field treatment.
27′ Serge Gnabry has gone off with an injury and is replaced by Alphonso Davies.
28′ Harry Kane takes a shot on the volley just outside the box following a deflected cross from Joshua Kimmich, Lunin gets a touch on it though and the ball is out for a corner.
34′ Real Madrid are again dominating possession after a few end to end chances, and Bayern are being suffocated by the Madrid press when they do get hold of the ball.
36′ Vinicius Jr. beats Matthijs De Ligt on the left hand side and makes his way into the box, but his cross is deflected.
39′ FOUL: De Ligt fouls Vinicius Jr. as Madrid win a free kick in a decent position for Toni Kroos in the Bayern half.
39′ Vinicius Jr. whips in a ball from the left hand side that needs to be tipped past the post by Manuel Neuer.
40′ FOUL: Bayern defend a couple of Madrid corners well and win a free kick in the box, conceded by Dani Carvajal.
43′ Bayern begin to look threatening around the Madrid box, but the passage is cut out by Jude Bellingham.
45′ There will be one additional minute for the first half.
45+1′ Bayern Munich again look threatening on the transition as Konrad Laimer splits the Real Madrid defence from the middle of the park with a ball into Harry Kane, however the pass was slightly overhit and is cut out by Andriy Lunin.
45+1′ HALF TIME: Szymon Marciniak blows the whistle for half time.
It’s goalless at the break after a competitive first half. Real Madrid have controlled possession and have come close to scoring on a couple of occasions, whilst Bayern’s potency on the counter has allowed them to test Andriy Lunin aswell. Madrid finish the half with eight attempts on goal compared to Bayern’s two.
A solid performance from Manuel Neuer so far has been a key factor in the game, and the injury to Serge Gnabry has slightly diluted their attacking threat following the introduction of Alphonso Davies, but the threat that the Canadian holds should not be ignored.
45′ SECOND HALF: The second half is underway at the Bernabeu.
46′ Vinicius Jr. once again breaks into the box and squares it nicely to Valverde as a crucial interception from Eric Dier
47′ Alphonso Davies’ shot from the left hand side of the penalty area
51′ Vinicius Jr. again beats Joshua Kimmich but again cannot find his man as his cross has been put out for a corner.
53′ A long ball from Matthijs De Ligt unleashes Harry Kane as he shoulders off his man and makes his way into the box, where his shot is saved at Lunin’s near post.
55′ Vinicius Jr. again finds himself in a dangerous area and squares the ball into Jude Bellingham who puts the ball agonisingly wide from the edge of the six-yard box.
56′ Vinicius Jr. is looking unstoppable on the left hand side and is looking like the most likely avenue for a Real Madrid goal.
58′ FOUL: Jude Bellingham wins a foul just outside the Bayern box in a dangerous position.
59′ Rodrygo beats the wall with a powerful free kick, saved by Manuel Neuer.
60′ Vinicius Jr. again breaks into the box from the left hand side and a powerful shot is saved from Manuel Neuer.
61′ FOUL: Antonio Rudiger brings down Jamal Musiala in the middle of the park.
63′ A few substitutes have been warming up for some time now. Thomas Muller, Luka Modric, Joselu, Brahim Diaz and Eduardo Camavinga are all on the sidelines.
64′ FOUL: Joshua Kimmich gives away a free kick on the byline with a handball as Vinicius Jr. was attempting to dribble past him.
66′ Jamal Musiala sees his shot saved by Andriy Lunin. Bayern corner.
68′ GOAL! BAYERN: Alphonso Davies has cut into the Real Madrid area from the left-hand side on the counter and has rifled his shot past Lunin with a right-footed shot into the right side netting. 3-2 Bayern. It is the Canadian international’s first goal in the Champions League.
69′ MADRID SUBSTITUTION: Ancelotti responds to the Bayern goal by bringing off Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni for veteran Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga.
71′ GOAL! MADRID: Real Madrid capitalise on a corner as the ball is played out to Valverde on the edge of the box and his powerful drive into the area has deflected in off of Matthijs De Ligt. The Bayern players are appealing for a foul as Joshua Kimmich is down, and we can expect a VAR check. 3-3 for now.
71′ GOAL DISALLOWED: A VAR review has resulted in the goal being disallowed due to Nacho elbowing Kimmich in the box prior to the goal. 3-2 Bayern.
76′ Jamal Musiala breaks free from Modric and Rudiger to unleash Harry Kane but his shot hits the side netting.
76′ BAYERN SUBSTITUTION: Leroy Sane comes off for Kim Min-Jae in a defensive switch.
76′ Bellingham is giving Rodrygo an earful during the Bayern substitution.
77′ FOUL: Harry Kane concedes a free kick for a foul on Nacho.
79′ FOUL: Eduardo Camavinga concedes a free kick for a foul on Harry Kane.
80′ FOUL: Luka Modric brings down Konrad Laimer.
81′ MADRID SUBSTITUTION: Another double substitution from Real Madrid as they bring off Valverde and Rodrygo for Brahim Diaz and Joselu.
82′ FOUL: Pavlovic has been penalised for a foul on Lunin following a Bayern corner.
83′ Rudiger plays a lovely ball to Vinicius Jr. who’s shot sails over the bar from close range.
84′ BAYERN SUBSTITUTION: Harry Kane comes off for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
85′ BAYERN SUBSTITUTION: Jamal Musiala’s night is over as he is replaced by Thomas Muller.
88′ GOAL! MADRID: After a fantastic evening, Manuel Neuer has made a mistake that has given Madrid the equaliser. A shot from Vinicius Jr. cannot be held by the goalkeeper and the ball falls into the path of the substitute Joselu who tucks it away. 3-3.
88′ It will be interesting to see how Bayern respond, having taken off two of their star players and changing their formation after their opener on the night.
90′ Nine minutes of added time are announced.
90+1′ A flurry of chances from Real Madrid as they are really testing the Bayern defence in the late stages.
90+1′ GOAL DISALLOWED: Nacho plays the ball to Rudiger inside the area who squares the ball into Joselu who puts the ball in the net, the goal has been deemed offside but there will be a VAR check.
90+2′ DECISION OVERTURNED, GOAL! MADRID: The VAR check has revealed that Joselu was in fact onside and the goal is given. The roof has come off of the Santiago Bernabeu as Joselu has come off the bench and turned this game around. 4-3.
90+5′ FOUL: Konrad Laimer fouls Joselu.
90+7′ FOUL: Konrad Laimer fouls Nacho.
90+7′ YELLOW CARD: Thomas Tuchel has been shown a yellow card by the referee.
90+8′ Bayern are on the offensive now, pushing for a late goal.
90+9′ Alphonso Davies is caught offside.
90+10′ MADRID SUBSTITUTION: Jude Bellingham is taken off for Eder Militao.
90+11′ YELLOW CARD: Eduardo Camavinga is shown a yellow card for a foul on Choupo-Moting.
90+13′ Mazroui is caught offside, but controversy as Matthijs De Ligt puts the ball in the back of the net after the whistle is blown.
90+15′ FULL TIME: The final whistle has blown and Real Madrid have produced yet another spectacle in the Champions League. Real Madrid 4-3 Bayern Munich.
Real Madrid have come back in the final minutes yet again in the Champions League to book their ticket to Wembley for this years final, where they will meet Borussia Dortmund. The Champions League runs in the blood of Real Madrid, exemplified by yet another magical night at the Santiago Bernabeu where spectators and supporters alike could barely catch a breath. Heroics from super-sub Joselu flipped the game on its head and put an incredible end to an incredible game of football.
Bayern Munich put in a strong performance tonight, but were ultimately hampered by Thomas Tuchel’s decision to take off two of their most creative players shortly before the Real Madrid goal. Manuel Neuer’s mistake unfortunately was the beginning of the end for the Bundesliga giants, who struggled to create meaningful chances without Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane. Bayern will finish the season with no silverware for the first time since 2012 after a brutal defeat tonight.
