” I can not explain it “. On the eve of the semi-final return between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Thomas Tuchel did not have the words to talk about the “myth” which surrounds the Spanish club. We imagine that he still has no explanation, beyond his anger towards the refereeing body, after the stunning victory, in three minutes, for the Spanish club on Wednesday evening (2-1). Once again, the unthinkable happened at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
Long identified by Europe as the club of “remontadas”, a legend born in the 1980s thanks to a collective led by Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid has been fueling this invincible facet for ten years. From Sergio Ramos’ equalizing goal in added time in the 2014 final to Joselu’s double on Wednesday evening, we look back at six moments of madness “made in” Real.
2014: “Décima” snatched after 92 minutes and 48 seconds
In 2014, Real Madrid of a certain Carlo Ancelotti (with Zinedine Zidane as assistant) sought its “Decima”, the 10th Champions League in its history, twelve years after its ultimate success. Opposed to its rival Atlético de Madrid, the White House is trailing 1-0. Until the “miracle of Lisbon”, place of the final. From a corner thrown by Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos appeared after 92 minutes and 48 seconds to equalize with a header and send everyone into overtime. A goal which destroyed the morale of the Colchoneros, swept away 4-1 in the end. And the start for Real Madrid of a decade of European domination.
2016: Cristiano Ronaldo offers his «comeback»
Two years later, Real Madrid, coached by Zinedine Zidane appointed in January 2016, appeared in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Julian Draxler’s Wolfsburg. The Germans achieved the feat in the first leg by winning 2-0 at home. Before the magic of the Santiago-Bernabeu begins. Led by a gala Cristiano Ronaldo, author of a hat-trick, the Madrilenians offered themselves a “comeback” worthy of their greatest moments (3-0) and reached the final for a revenge against Atlético de Madrid. This time, Antoine Griezmann’s teammates failed on penalties (1-1 after, 5-3).
2017: Bayern’s… Carlo Ancelotti and controversial refereeing
In 2017, “Zizou” and Real once again faced a German club in the quarter-finals: Bayern Munich coached by Carlo Ancelotti. The first leg is in favor of the Spaniards, who win with authority in Bavaria (2-1). The return then appears to be a formality but Robert Lewandowski’s teammates return the favor to the Madrilenians with a 2-1 success in Spain. Before all the controversies arrived.
An ultra-severe exclusion from Arturo Vidal (84th) and a hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo, including a goal in an offside position, provoked the anger of the Munich residents, eliminated 4-2 after extra time. In the semi-final, Real got rid of Atlético (3-0; 1-2) before crushing Juventus in the final (4-1).
2018: Juventus and another arbitration intervention
The meeting of the season is still a quarter-final. Against Juve this time. The first leg turned into a demonstration of force by Cristiano Ronaldo, author of a legendary acrobatic return, and Real Madrid, winners in Turin (3-0). But the return match turns sour. On April 11, 2018, Blaise Matuidi’s Juve leads 3-0 at the Santiago-Bernabeu and expects to obtain extension. Before a crazy added time, made possible thanks to the final decision of the English referee Michael Oliver.
On the last action, Lucas Vazquez is (slightly) pushed in the back in the area. Penalty awarded, converted by Cristiano Ronaldo. The anger of Gianluigi Buffon, excluded, seems legitimate. The pressure from the Bernabeu once again played its part. Real dismisses Bayern in the semi-final and sweeps Liverpool in the final for a third coronation in a row. A first in history.
2022: Benzema and Rodrygo disgust Europe
2021-2022 season. Carlo Ancelotti returned to business on the bench. And brings back with him his formidable karma. From the round of 16 onwards, Real Madrid’s entire journey that year was unthinkable. The first “miracle” took place against PSG. After a 1-0 victory at the Parc des Princes, Kylian Mbappé and his partners lead 1-0 in Madrid. But in ten minutes, Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick and capsized his audience (3-1, final score).
In the next round, the Madrilenians won with authority against Chelsea in the first leg (3-1) with a new festival of “KB9”. But Thomas Tuchel’s men are on the verge of a feat by leading 3-0 in the return match at the Bernabeu. Except that Rodrygo, in the 80th, scores the goal of hope and snatches extra time. A moment which Benzema took advantage of to score the qualifying goal.
It’s finish ? Well no. Because the greatest miracle happens in the semi-final against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s English won 4-3 in the first leg and led 1-0 until the start of the 90th minute in the return. But an improbable double from Rodrygo in less than two minutes gives the locals extra time. A moment further enhanced by a penalty from Benzema. Real will seek its 14th Champions League against Liverpool (1-0) a few weeks later at the Stade de France.
2024: Joselu, the new hero
Real Madrid’s current campaign is much less spectacular than that of 2021-2022. But it still symbolizes this invincibility which overturns everything on the European scene. In the round of 16? RB Leipzig shakes up the White House, which comes out with quite a few chances and a helping hand from the referees (1-0; 1-1). In the quarter-finals? Manchester City crushed the game in the second leg but Carlo Ancelotti’s team resisted everything and won on penalties (3-3; 1-1 ap, 4-3 tab).
In the semi-finals? Here is Real Madrid led and tortured by Bayern Munich in the first leg before coming back to 2-2 at the end of the match. On the return leg, the Bavarians led 1-0 until the 89th minute before Joselu, out of nowhere, scored twice in two minutes. After 15 minutes of added time and a new refereeing controversy, the Spanish club snatched its ticket for an 18th final (14 wins, 3 defeats so far). See you on June 1 at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund.
