It’s always Real Madrid, isn’t it? Two ridiculously late goals took Real Madrid past Bayern Munich into the Champions League final, despite a heroic effort on the part of the Bavarian giants. Here are the match awards:
Jersey Swap: Vinicius Junior
The footballing world collectively agrees that Kylian Mbappé is going to Real Madrid. But while the Frenchman struggled to impact the game for Paris Saint Germain yesterday, Vinicus Junior ran the show for Real Madrid today. Joshua Kimmich was simply unable to get near Real Madrid’s No.7, who danced around every opponent he came across, terrified Bayern’s defense all night long and played a crucial role in the first goal.
Der Kaiser: Manuel Neuer
It is so easy to focus on the agonizing way Manuel Neuer failed to hold on to Vinicius Junior’s shot, which spilled out to Joselu to tap in the equalizer. But this goal should in no way cancel out all the tremendous work Neuer did beforehand, singlehandedly keeping Bayern in the game with sensational save after sensational save, but also maintaining incredible composure on the ball to keep the team’s heads on straight. It is as if Vinicius’ brace in the first leg pissed Neuer off, with the Brazilian’s repeated attempts at goal pawed away again and again and again. This game was a reminder of the German’s eternal class.
Der Fussballgott: Konrad Laimer
Konrad Laimer was by far Bayern’s best player in the first leg and he once again stepped up to the plate for the Bavarian giants when they needed him most. Laimer never stopped running the entire match, consistently harassing Real Madrid’s midfielders, nipping at them and winning back the ball in a glorious fashion. On top of all that, he also showed an unusual level of press resistance today, shrugging his way past opposition players like it was nothing and bulldozing his way forward. Desperately unlucky to be on the losing side.
Der Bomber: Alphonso Davies
What a goal. What an incredible goal. After months of poor performances, Alphonso Davies was rightly dropped and forced to re-evaluate his status at the club. But after being brought on for Serge Gnabry today, it seems Davies inherited Gnabry’s destiny to score, cutting in and shooting with his weak foot to score an absolute screamer from outside the box. What a goal it was.
Man of the Match: The whole team
Look, it’s cheesy and there will be people annoyed at how positively such a disappointing and aggravating loss is being written about here. But it is pertinent to remember how difficult that spell was in February, where it had seemed that Thomas Tuchel had lost the dressing room and the season was going to fall apart. The fact that Bayern managed to rally against Lazio, ease past Arsenal and run Real Madrid this close demonstrates how the entire dressing room came together and put their all into a season that seemed hopeless. That attitude was nearly rewarded today, too, when Bayern pushed and pushed even in the 15th added minute after 90, after everything seemed lost, and Matthjis De Ligt scored a goal that was controversially ruled out. It would have been a just reward for a team that simply never stopped trying. Bayern leaves the Champions League but will do so with their heads held high.