Bayern ousts last of Spanish giants
MADRID—FIRST Barcelona, then Real Madrid. Bayern Munich sent Madrid out on penalties on Wednesday to reach a Champions League final that will be held in its own stadium and ensure neither of the Spanish giants will get a chance to play for the famous trophy.
Madrid’s demise came after Chelsea had stunned Barcelona at the Camp Nou. And just as Lionel Messi missed a penalty for defending champion Barca, his Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo had his spot kick saved in a tense shootout that sent Bayern through to face Chelsea at its Allianz Arena on May 19.
Bayern will become the first team to play for the trophy on home soil.
“Todaywe provedweare a great team,” Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said. “When I think about the fact that we can play a final in our own stadium this is something to go absolutely crazy about.”
Ronaldo looked to have put the home side on its way to the final with two early goals, but Arjen Robben’s 27th-minute penalty leveled the score over two legs at 3-3.
In the shootout, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved from Ronaldo and Kaka to put Bayern on course after it had scored its opening two kicks, before Iker Casillas denied Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm to drag Madrid back into it.
But Sergio Ramos skied his penalty high over the bar for Madrid, leaving Bastian Schweinsteiger to win it for the visitors, the Germany international shooting straight down the middle to spark the Bayern celebrations.
Schweinsteiger ripped his shirt off and went screaming toward the Bayern fans. Some of Madrid’s players were also crying as they walked off with their heads hanging after coming so close to reaching their first final in 10 years.