Bayern bow out after two late goals in Madrid

FC Bayern's dream of reaching the Champions League final was heartbreakingly dashed after a 2-1 defeat away to Real Madrid on Wednesday night. Alphonso Davies handed Bayern the lead after the hour mark, but Real's Joselu scored two late goals to turn the tie on its head as Bayern bowed out in the semi-final 4-3 on aggregate.

The Bavarians lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Eric Dier, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui in defence. Konrad Laimer and Aleksandar Pavlović anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry, with Harry Kane as the target man. Gnabry had to be replaced due to injury midway through the first half to be replaced by Davies. Minjae Kim, Thomas Müller and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting took over from Sané, Musiala and Kane in the second half.

Many chances, no goals

Real were dominant in the first half, with Dani Carvajal's low cross only just evading Rodrygo before Vinicius Junior hit the post and Neuer saved Rodrygo's rebound. Vinicius fired wide, but Bayern had their chances, and Laimer teed up Sané, whose first touch let him down, before Real keeper Andriy Lunin only just saved low from Kane.

Nacho beat Sané to a long ball before Neuer palmed a Vinicius curler wide. Lunin saved a curling Mazraoui effort and beat Kane to a through ball as the teams went into half-time with the scores still level.

Late agony

Davies saw a shot deflected inches over the bar and a Kane shot was saved after the restart. Rodrygo fired just wide at the other end. Neuer shone with two more strong saves against Rodrygo and Vinicius before Lunin denied Musiala at the other end.

Kane soon released the charging Davies on the break, who entered the box and hammered into the far corner of the net on his right foot to put Bayern in front. Real had the ball in the net minutes later, but the goal was chalked off for Nacho's foul against Kimmich. Kane hit the side-netting and Kim powered a header against the bar.

Vinicius fired wide, but Madrid levelled the scores when Neuer, who had put in a world-class performance up to this point, let shot from the Brazilian bounce off his chest, with substitute Joselu tapping in. Dier blocked against Brahim Diaz, but Real soon went ahead when Joselu turned Antonio Rüdiger's low cross. Müller's header invited de Ligt to slot home deep into added time, but the goal was ruled out for offside as Bayern slipped to a 2-1 defeat on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Sunday when they entertain Wolfsburg in the final home game this season.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen