Football – Champions League | Real Madrid reaches third straight final

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal

Last time, it was a late penalty. This time, a goalkeeping blunder.

Real Madrid keeps finding ways to get out of trouble in the Champions League.

Madrid conceded early again at home and barely held on for a draw 2-2 against Bayern in yesterday’s semifinal match, advancing 4-3 on aggregate to stay on track for a third consecutive European title. But with Cristiano Ronaldo held scoreless for the second time in as many games, Madrid needed a blunder from Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich to gift them their second — and crucial — goal on the night.

“It’s a Champions League semifinal. You will always suffer,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. “Nothing is easy. Football is like that, you have to suffer. And when you win, it feels even better, although it’s not too good for your heart.”

Joshua Kimmich scored for Bayern in the third minute to set the stage for another comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu, like the one Juventus nearly pulled off in the quarterfinals before Ronaldo converted an injury-time penalty.

But the hosts reacted quicker this time, with Karim Benzema equalizing early in the first half and scoring again just after halftime after an embarrassing mistake by Ulreich when he allowed a back pass into the area to go underneath him.

Bayern went within a goal of eliminating the European champions when former Madrid player James Rodriguez scored in the 63rd, and it pressured the hosts until the end, but it was not enough to avoid a third straight elimination against the Spanish club.

“We were the best team in both games but we were not able to reach the final,” Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said. “We dominated. They should thank [goalkeeper Keylor Navas for his performance, especially toward the end of the match.”

The German club, which has now been knocked out in the Champions League semifinals in four of the last five seasons, had several good chances in the final minutes but was unable to capitalize.

By successfully defending its 2-1 win from last week, Madrid stayed on track for a third consecutive European title, and fourth in five seasons.

Europe’s most successful club with 12 trophies, Madrid will play the final against either Liverpool or Roma, which played today in Italy [after closing time].

“It was a crazy match,” Zidane said. “We struggled in the beginning, conceding early and not being able to play our game. But it was a lot better in the second half. We pressed up front and got the second goal.”

Bayern started well and easily created scoring chances, while Madrid tried to control possession but only threatened on counterattacks with the speed of Ronaldo and Marco Asensio up front.

Kimmich netted from inside the area after Madrid captain Sergio Ramos failed to clear a ball crossed into the area by Corentin Tolisso.

It was an eerily similar start to Madrid’s match against Juventus, when it conceded in the second minute while trying to protect a 3-0 first-leg advantage. Madrid conceded twice more in that game but eventually advanced thanks to Ronaldo’s injury-time penalty.

This time, Madrid reacted a lot more quickly, with Benzema equalizing in the 11th with a firm header after a well-placed cross from the left by Marcelo.

Benzema hasn’t been playing regularly as a starter and was a surprise addition to the lineup by Zidane. He had scored only once in his last 12 appearances in all competitions.

“It was a perfect night for me and for everyone,” Benzema said.

The French striker gave Madrid a 2-1 lead after Ulreich’s howler. The goalkeeper appeared to lose his footing while trying to get to the ball and seemed to hesitate to stop it with his hands before missing it entirely as he went to the ground. That allowed Benzema to run onto the ball for an easy finish into an open net.

“It was tough to concede that goal so early in the second half,” Heynckes said. “It was a gift.”

Bayern wasn’t done yet and Rodriguez equalized with a low shot from inside the area. The Colombian playmaker didn’t celebrate, instead raising his hands in an almost apologetic gesture to the home fans.

Bayern unsuccessfully appealed for a handball by Marcelo just before halftime, when the Madrid defender appeared to be just inside the area.

“I’d be lying if I said the ball didn’t touch my hand,” the Brazilian left back said. “And if it touched my hand, I think it was [a penalty].”

Meanwhile Robert Lewandowski continued to struggle up front, as he went a fifth straight Champions League game without a goal for the first time in his career.

Madrid, playing in its 250th Champions League match, is the first team to make it to three European finals in a row since Juventus from 1996-98. Tales Azzoni, Madrid, AP

Madrid keeps adding to its European dominance

Surrounded by fans and holding a microphone in his hand, Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos joined the Santiago Bernabeu faithful in song: “Kings of Europe. We are the kings of Europe.”

There is still one more Champions League match to go, but Madrid certainly has a claim to that throne.

“We are happy, and for good reason,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. “It’s not normal to make it to the final in three consecutive seasons. Definitely it’s not normal. But here we are again, and we will try to defend our title any way we can.”

Two-time defending champion Madrid reached yet another Champions League final by eliminating Bayern Munich in the semifinals. It will be the team’s fourth appearance in the final in the last five years.

Already a 12-time champion, Madrid will now try to become the first team to win three consecutive titles in the current Champions League format. Last season, it became the first to win two in a row.

“It’s not about this team, it’s about this club,” Zidane said. “It has a long history, one that started a very long time ago. And now we are adding another chapter to it. Others have done it before us, and now it’s our time to do it.”

Zidane was still a player when he helped Madrid win its ninth Champions League title in 2002, but after that the club went more than a decade without even making it to the final. It wasn’t until Carlo Ancelotti took over that Madrid returned to glory in 2014, and then Zidane — in his first head-coaching job — led the team to consecutive trophies in 2016 and 2017.

“What we have is this never-give-up attitude,” Zidane said. “Even when facing significant difficulties, as it happened against a great rival like Bayern. We keep believing and we keep fighting, and that’s how we reach our goals.”

Madrid has become the first team to twice play in three straight finals in the top European club competition. It first did it when it won five straight titles when the competition started from 1956-60. Its other trophies came in 1966, 1998 and 2000.

AC Milan is the team closest to Madrid in European titles with seven. Ajax (1971-73) and Bayern (1974-76) are the only other teams besides Madrid to have won with three consecutive trophies.

It hasn’t been an easy path to the final for Madrid this season. After eliminating Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, it nearly squandered a 3-0 lead against Juventus in the quarterfinals. And yesterday it came very close to relinquishing a 2-1 advantage against Bayern.

“We’ve beaten three enormous teams,” Zidane said. “You are not going to do that without suffering. We need to be very happy with what we’ve done.”

Madrid conceded early against Bayern, just like it did against Juventus, but Karim Benzema scored twice — including after an embarrassing mistake by Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich — and the hosts held on after James Rodriguez left the Germans a goal away from avoiding their third consecutive elimination against the Spanish powerhouse.

“It’s not easy to get to four finals in five years,” Madrid midfielder Luka Modric said. “We are very happy because we are doing incredible things, it’s amazing. We are one step away and I hope we can get our hands on another trophy.” AP