Late goals and refereeing ‘betrayal’ see Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich to reach their 18th Champions League final

Joselu's stunning late double on Wednesday propelled Real Madrid to an extraordinary 2-1 comeback victory over Bayern Munich, securing a 4-3 aggregate win and booking their spot in the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League final.

The late drama didn't stop with Joselu's goals, as controversy erupted when Bayern’s Matthijs De Ligt appeared to have scored a clear equaliser deep into stoppage time, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. However, replays later showed that Bayern’s attackers in the move may have been onside.

Referee Szymon Marciniak's decision sparked outrage from Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel, who described it as “disastrous” and “almost like a betrayal”. Despite the linesman's apology, Tuchel insisted that such errors are unacceptable at this level of the competition.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid's triumph sees them through to their 18th Champions League final, slated to take place at London's Wembley Stadium on June 1. The fixture promises a classic David vs Goliath showdown between the Spanish giants and Borussia Dortmund, a team that defied all expectations to reach this stage.

Currently positioned fifth in the Bundesliga, Dortmund surprised many by eliminating Paris Saint-Germain en route to the final, adding to their credentials as formidable contenders. Meanwhile, Real Madrid enters the final as newly-crowned La Liga champions and the most successful club in UEFA Champions League history, boasting 14 titles.

With an impressive track record, which also includes five Champions League title wins in the last decade (the latest arriving in 2022), Real Madrid aims to add another trophy to their illustrious collection. Will they emerge victorious once again in this year's final? Stay tuned!