Real Madrid first finalists
●Goalie Ulreich’s error costs Bayern place in final
Real Madrid Bayern Munich
(R. Madrid qualify 4-3 on aggregate)
Real Madrid moved a step closer to winning a third straight European title and fourth in five seasons, when they drew 2-2 yesterday with Germany’s Bayern Munich to reach the final 4-3 on aggregate. They had won the first leg in Munich 2-1.
It was another difficult match for the Spanish giants, 12 times winners of the competition, as Bayern took the game to their opponents from the first minute trying with all their might to reverse the first leg score.
It became even more difficult for Madrid after the Germans took a third minute lead, but they quickly levelled matters after eight minutes.
It was an incredible mistake by goalie Ulreich early in the second half that let Bayern down – it gave Madrid a 2-1 lead. And although the Germans fought back to level the scores at 2-2 through James Rodrigues, they failed to score another goal which would have seen them through - they were denied on several occasions by goalie Navas.
Bayern had a fiery start and took the lead on the third minute. A Muller cross from the right created a small melee in the heart of the Madrid defence, but Lewandowski managed to pass the ball to Kimmich who made no mistake.
Madrid was stunned, but they still managed to fight back and level matters on 11 minutes. From a fine Marcelo cross, Benzema was left completely unmarked and he beat Ulreich with an easy header.
On 32 minutes, a Muller low but weak shot was well saved by Navas and a minute later, Navas denied Bayern as he miraculously blocked a close range effort from Lewandowski.
In the 34th minute, James missed a glorious opportunity for Bayern when he hit over the bar from just two metres.
Before the end of the first half, Ronaldo, until then a shadow of his usual self, had a low shot turned to corner by Ulreich.
And at the other end, Bayern seemed to have been denied a penalty when Marcelo clearly handled the ball in the area from a Kimmich cross, but Turkish referee Cakir ignored their protests.
Madrid took the lead soon after the start of the second half as Bayern goalie Ulreich slipped and gifted the ball to Benzema who obviously made no mistake with an open goal.
Bayern almost equalised soon after when it was again Navas who saved Madrid, turning to corner a difficult shot from Alaba.
But at the other end, Ronaldo missed a sitter as he fired over the bar when completely unmarked following a cross from Marcelo.
Bayern went all out on attack and they were rewarded for their efforts with an equaliser from James Rodrigues who scored after his first attempt was blocked by a defender.
In the 74th minute, Madrid goalie Navas again saved his fort with an excellent save on a Tolisso effort.
In the final minutes, Bayern pressed hard to get the needed goal, but goalkeeper Navas twice intercepted very dangerous balls to keep denying them.
At the end, it was time for the Madrid fans to start celebrating their team’s qualification into another final.