Real Madrid v Bayern Munich Takeaways
The Champions League is Real Madrid's tournament, Carlo Ancelotti is the king and Harry Kane is cursed.
Never write Real Madrid off in the Champions League.
We looked set for an all-German final with two minutes of the 90 remaining on Wednesday, with Alphonso Davies' stunning strike putting Bayern Munich on course to meet Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.
However, Madrid pulled off yet another miraculous rescue act, with Joselu the unlikely hero as he stepped off the bench to score twice in three minutes and turn the tie on its head.
While Thomas Tuchel and Harry Kane are now facing up to the sober reality of a trophyless season in Bavaria, Madrid are hot favourites to claim their 15th European crown – and their sixth in the space of 11 years.
Here, More Than A Game dives into three takeaways from Wednesday's semi-final classic.
THIS IS MADRID'S TOURNAMENT
Everyone else should pack up and go home – Madrid's name is on the trophy yet again.
Those aren't exactly the words of encouragement Edin Terzic and Dortmund will be hoping to hear, but even if BVB are utterly perfect at Wembley, it may not be enough.
Madrid always find a way in this competition. It's in their DNA.
When defending a lead in the dying moments at the Santiago Bernabeu, it can feel like you're not only contending with Los Blancos' star-studded team, but also the aura they have cultivated through nearly 70 years in Europe.
Carlo Ancelotti's men have now won four matches when conceding first in this season's Champions League, the most by any team in a single campaign since… yep, you guessed it, Madrid in 2016-17 – when they completed five turnarounds en route to lifting the trophy.
In 2021-22, they overturned deficits in three straight knockout ties against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City in the most memorable Champions League run of recent years, sheer force of will seemingly dragging the ball into the net whenever they seemed down and out.
European glory seemed to be their destiny on that occasion, and given the nature of Wednesday's win, there is a similar feeling in the air this year.
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