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The future of Real Madrid in the present: double goalscorer Rodrygo (left) and his Brazilian compatriot Vinicius Junior
Photo:
David Ramos/Getty Images
Just like in 1999:
FC Bayern fans will remember with horror.
Munich led in the Champions League final against Manchester United until injury time, then two more goals were scored and the pot was gone.
Now United's city rivals have to cope with such a trauma.
In the second leg of the semi-final, Manchester City were 1-0 up at Real Madrid up to the 90th minute and thought they were in the final.
Then came substitute Rodrygo and scored twice for Los Blancos within 88 seconds.
Gary Lineker's legendary saying ("In the end, the Germans always win") needs to be rewritten: In the end, Real Madrid always wins.
Bye bye away goals rule:
In the past, the rule holders of football have always been wrong.
The fact that Uefa had decided before this season to abolish the away goals rule that had been established for decades (in the event of a tie, goals scored away from home were given more weight), also caused controversial discussions.
This game in Madrid is proof that the European federation got it right.
After 4: 3 for City in the first leg, it was 5: 5 after the Rodrygo goals, according to the old rule Real would have been through.
So it went into extra time - a worthy final act of two sensational football games.
The result:
Real Madrid scored another goal in extra time - and after the 3-1 (0-0, 2-1) win they are in the final of the Champions League.
You can read the match report here.
German duel:
FC Bayern have not been there since the quarter-finals, but the final on May 28 at the Stade de France in Paris will not take place entirely without German participation.
Jürgen Klopp can repeat the title win from 2019 as Liverpool manager.
He was now followed by Toni Kroos after winning a direct duel against Ilkay Gündoğan.
One (Kroos) was in the starting eleven for the 16th time in a premier class semi-final, the other (Gündoğan) came off the bench – and seemed to win the duel in the meantime.
First half:
What an exhilarating first leg was that?
Seven goals, 27 shots on goal, over 1000 passes played - both teams knew only one direction in Manchester a week ago.
That was probably a bit too much spectacle for the two coaches.
Because the game in Madrid couldn't keep up, also because Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola put more on security.
Real pulled Kroos back to a double six alongside Casemiro, Ancelotti deviated from his usual 4-3-3.
At Manchester, the full-backs Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo acted unusually reserved, so the depth in the game of the guests was missing.
This time it wasn't a spectacle for a long time, it was a tactical battle of attrition.
That wasn't bad news for City at first.
Lucky for Laporte:
It was the ninth minute and referee Daniele Orsato showed the first yellow cards.
What happened?
Casemiro had tackled Kevin De Bruyne, which the Italian considered a normal foul.
During the subsequent pack formation, City's Aymeric Laporte tangled with Real legend Luka Modrić, both of whom were cautioned.
There could have been red for Laporte after a slap in the face and a subsequent drama interlude.
Apparently it wasn't enough for Orsato to be sent off, maybe because of the early timing, but maybe also because the hand on the opponent's face is now completely normal.
Both reasons should have no relevance in football.
Benzema I:
It's still a bit early to start thinking about the next world footballer.
Karim Benzema should be on the short list based on impressions so far this season - the Frenchman has scored nine goals in the five knockout games in the Champions League so far.
In the first half, however, Benzema failed to live up to his reputation as a game-maker.
The striker headed well over the goal (5'), shot his foot into the top shelf again (12'), and Benzema was ruled offside for the third shot (43').
Second half:
All the tactical banter could have been over in eight seconds.
After the kick-off, Kroos sent Dani Carvajal down on the right, whose cross reached Vinicius Junior on the back post, but the Brazilian – left alone by the stunned City defense – fired wide from a few meters.
As the game progressed, Real was the better team without really becoming a goal threat.
But the game should still pick up speed - and then just remember the first leg.
When the chains fall:
In the 68th minute, the spectators at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu rose.
Toni Kroos, Real's conductor and passing machine, was substituted when the score was 0-0.
On the one hand it was thanks for a real legend, but above all it was the starting signal for the tactical chains to be thrown off.
First of all, the change should play City in the cards.
There were more spaces in midfield, which Gündoğan in particular knew how to use after being substituted on (72').
He was also involved in creating Riyad Mahrez's opening goal (73').
But Real always believes in themselves, even to the last second.
By the way, double goalscorer Rodrygo was substituted for Kroos.
Benzema II:
When it went into extra time, alongside Kroos, Casemiro and Modrić were long gone.
Instead, the heart of Real fired from the outside – including Benzema.
And the top scorer should decide this semi-final after all.
In the 93rd minute he got the ball a little before Ruben Dias after a pass from Rodrygo, City's defender hit Benzema's leg and referee Orsato awarded a penalty.
Benzema played himself, but this time did without the lobbed Panenka variation from the first leg and gave goalkeeper Ederson no chance with a low shot into the left corner.
The madness was real – as so often in recent years.
Now Madrid is playing for their 14th title in the Champions League.
