Madrid’s love affair
SPANIARDS TO CONTEST ANOTHER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
Real Madrid turned to the same old story in the Champions League and even though Bayern Munich knew all of the words, they were powerless to stop the kings of Europe pulling off another improbable and yet inevitable comeback.
Joselu’s late double fired the record 14-time winners into the Wembley final on 1 June, just as it seemed Bayern had set up another all-German battle as in 2013.
Madrid’s Jude Bellingham will face his former team Borussia Dortmund in search of the 15th, after Los Blancos returned from what he described as “dead and buried” to triumph.
“We saw ourselves in the final and now I’m lost for words,” said shellshocked Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
“Madrid are immortal,” wrote Spanish newspaper Marca. “The eternal miracle,” proclaimed another capital publication, AS.
Madrid will be firm favourites to extend their dominance in Europe after reaching their sixth Champions League final in the last 11 years and winning five of the last 10.
Regardless of whether they are outplayed, as by Manchester City in the quarterfinals, or on the verge of elimination, as against Bayern, Madrid so often find a way where other teams would wither.
Alphonso Davies’ second-half strike had Bayern dreaming of a 2013 final rematch against Bundesliga rivals Dortmund, but journeyman forward Joselu intervened in the dying embers of the match.
“It’s happened again – it’s happened so often,” marvelled Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti, a four-time winner of the trophy as a coach.
“Fans who push us on, a fantastic stadium, players who never stop believing – it’s simply something magical.”
Madrid have enjoyed many spectacular comebacks over the years but the last time they lifted the trophy, in 2022, their run to the final defied belief at every step.
AC Milan, with seven Champions League wins, are Madrid’s closest contenders on exactly half the Spanish giants’ tally.
Final opponents Dortmund have lifted the trophy on just one occasion, back in 1997, and few will give them a chance against the might of Madrid.
Since ending an 11-year dry spell by winning their 10th Champions League during Ancelotti’s first spell at the helm a decade ago, Madrid have not looked back.
“We always believe in ourselves... it happened again and we’re going for the 15th,” said Vinicius Junior, who scored the goal that won Madrid’s 14th.