Real survive scare to book final place again

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Early goals give Atletico hope, but Isco nets to slam door

Karim Benzema’s brilliance booked Real Madrid a place in the Champions League final again after the holders survived an early scare at the Vicente Calderon last night.

Early goals from Saul and Antoine Griezmann gave Diego Simeone’s men hope of hauling back a 3-0 first-leg deficit before a goal from Isco late in the first half effectively ended the contest.

And it was Frenchman Benzema who shone brightest as Real ultimately cruised to a 4-2 aggregate win, setting up Isco’s effort and having a major impact on a much more consistent second-half showing from his side.

The hosts had been indebted to goalkeeper Jan Oblak for keeping their slim hopes alive in the early stages when the Czech made a brilliant one-handed save to deny Casemiro.

But Simeone’s men would capitalise on their lucky escape and pulled their first goal back after 12 minutes when Saul rose highest in the box to power home from a Koke corner.

The goal raised hopes of a sensational comeback and they were further realised four minutes later when Fernando Torres was fouled by Raphael Varane in the box and Griezmann calmly slotted the resulting penalty past Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Real, though, drew on all of their Champions League experience to weather the storm and Isco fired home three minutes from the break after Benzema wriggled past three Atletico defenders and crossed for Toni Kroos, whose initial effort was blocked by Oblak before Isco shot home the rebound.

The holders will now play Juventus in the final in Cardiff on June 3.

Picture: Getty. Isco, centre, celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro after scoring Real’s goal.

Karim Benzema: produced a moment of magic to set up the Real goal that killed off Atletico hopes of a fightback.