Benzema brace sends Real Madrid into Champions League final in dramatic game against Bayern Munich
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Updated 02/05/2018 at 21:37 GMT
Champions League, Bernabeu - Real Madrid 2 (4) Bayern Munich 2 (3)
La joie du Real Madrid après le deuxième but de Karim Benzema contre le Bayern Munich en demi-finale retour de la Ligue des champions
Image credit: Getty Images
Real Madrid reached their third straight Champions League final with a dramatic 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich on Tuesday night to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
An early goal from Joshua Kimmich had Real sweating, but a brace from Karim Benzema temporarily calmed the nerves around the Bernabeu, with the Frenchman’s second goal coming courtesy of a huge error by Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.
A strike by on-loan James Rodriguez against his parent club made the score 2-2 on the night, leaving Bayern just one goal away from going through with 27 minutes remaining. However, Real managed to hang on and will face the winner of Wednesday night’s tie between Liverpool and Roma in the showpiece final in Kiev.
Kimmich, who opened the scoring in the first leg in Munich, fired home from close range after just three minutes to give Bayern the perfect start in the Madrid sunshine, but their lead did not last long as Benzema headed home Marcelo’s cross eight minutes later to level on the night. Benzema has come under much criticism this season, but he certainly picked a timely moment to score just his 10th league goal of the season - his second key semi-final goal in as many seasons.
Bayern, to their credit, continued to take the game to Real, but suffered, as they did in the first leg, with a severe bout of profligacy, with James missing from a matter of yards 34 minutes in.
A disastrous start to the second half proved pivotal, with Ulreich slipping at the vital moment just 21 seconds after the second-half kick-off, leaving Benzema with the easiest of tasks to put Real in front.
James then made up for his earlier miss with a fine finish after his initial strike had been blocked, and Bayern sensed the most dramatic of finales was on.
Nonetheless, with a mixture of good fortune, fine goalkeeping and desperate defending Real held on to preserve their incredible run under Zinedine Zidane, where Real have never been knocked out in the Champions League, progressing in all nine of their two-legged Champions League ties as well as winning the two finals they’ve appeared in.
TALKING POINT
How do Real Madrid keep doing it? Over the two legs, Bayern had 33 attempts compared to Real's 16. They were second best for much of the tie, in Munich and in Madrid, but Real got lucky again. They got lucky against Juventus in the last round, but it has happened so often over the past few years that it has become common place - Real to be second best and still progress. Liverpool, in full flow, will really fancy their chances against this jittery Real backline, if they can finish the job in Rome.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Keylor Navas: The Real stopper gets this award for two reasons. One for his all-round performance in the Bernabeu, making countless fine saves as well as some strong punches. The other is for doing so in the face of such adversity. Navas was poor in the first leg, of that there can be no doubt. The naysayers were out in force as a result, but he stood up to his critics, and showed he is still one of the best goalkeepers in the world to see Real through.
PLAYER RATINGS
Real Madrid: Navas 9, Lucas Vazquez 5, Varane 7, Ramos 7, Marcelo 7, Kovacic 6, Kroos 6, Modric 6, Asensio 6, Benzema 8, Ronaldo 5... Subs: Nacho N/A, Bale 6, Casemiro 6.
Bayern Munich: Ulreich 5, Kimmich 6, Sule 8, Hummels 6, Alba 8, Thiago 6, Tolisso 7, James Rodriguez 7, Muller 6, Lewandowski 5, Ribery 6... Subs: Wagner 6, Martinez 6.
KEY MOMENTS
3’ - GOOOOOOOAAALLLL! Real Madrid 0-1 Bayern Munich (agg 2-2). What a start for Bayern, and it is that man Josh Kimmich again! Thomas Muller whipped the cross into the middle, Sergio Ramos failed to clear properly, and Kimmich arrived unmarked to fire Bayern in front on the night. Real still lead on away goals…
11’ - GOOOOAAALLLL! Real Madrid 1-1 Bayern Munich (agg 3-2). Benzema heads home to put Real back in charge. Well that lasted long. Great play from Marcelo to get the ball out of his feet, the cross is perfect, Benzema loses Alaba before bulleting a header into the net. Only his 10th goal of the season, but what a time to score it.
29’ - CHANCE! Cristiano Ronaldo does really well to delay the pass, feeds Marcelo, who takes too long to square the ball, allowing defenders time to get back and block.
34’ - MISS! Lewandowski is in on the angle, he shoots for goal, Navas sticks out a leg to make the save, the ball loops into the air, James arrives to convert the rebound, but fires over the top from a matter of yards!
46' - GOOOOOALLLLL! Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich (agg 4-2). Catastrophe for Ulreich as Benzema scores just 21 seconds in to the second half to put Real in command. That was painful to watch. Tolisso passes the ball back to Ulreich, the Bayern stopper comes out to clear, slips, lets the ball roll past him, allowing Benzema to coast past him and roll the ball into the empty net.
51' - SAVE! Huge stop from Navas. Alaba fires at goal, it takes a big deflection, but Navas flings out a strong arm to block
55' - WHAT. A. MISS. Marcelo clips a super cross into the middle, Ronaldo is unmarked, eight yards out, he volleys for goal, looks certain to score, but blazes over the top.
59' - BLOCKS! Ramos to the rescue again as he races out to block Sule's drilled effort. The visitors continue to throw everything at Real. Great entertainment!
63' - GOOOOAAAALLLL! Real Madrid 2-2 Bayern Munich (agg 4-3). James against his parent club! One more goal and Bayern are through!
74' - SAVE! Super stop from Navas beat the ball clear of danger after Tolisso had swivelled and shot for goal.
90' - CHANCE! Thiago with a super cross from the corner, Hummels gets up, but cannot find the target.
KEY STATS
- Real Madrid have reached their 16th European Cup/Champions League final – more than any other side.
- Zinedine Zidane is the first manager to reach three consecutive Champions League finals since Marcello Lippi between 1996 to 1998.
- James Rodríguez is the 7th player in Champions League history to both score for and against Real Madrid (also Beckham, Morata, van Nistelrooy, Morientes, Robben, Zamorano).
- Karim Benzema's first half equaliser ended a move of 28 completed passes by Real Madrid - only Lucas Digne's goal for Barcelona against Olympiakos (29) has featured more in the Champions League this season.
- Benzema scored his first brace in a Champions League knockout game since February 2014 (v Schalke).
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