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Despite being brought in as just a squad player, Joselu has shown that he is an integral and important part of Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid machine, and they have another UCL final to win.
Joselu was the hero of the night as Real Madrid, in typical fashion, came back from the death to stun Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League semi-final match at the Bernabeu.
Alfonso Davies had given Thomas Tuchel’s men the lead courtesy of a stunning strike in the 68th minute after cutting inside Antonio Rudiger and firing into the top corner with his weaker right foot.
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Bayern Munich had one leg in the final and maintained their lead until the 88th minute, when everything changed.
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21:57 - 08.05.2024
Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern (4-3 agg): Stoke City flop Joselu's late brace books Dortmund final clash for Los Blancos
Joselu writes his name in Real Madrid folklore with late Bayern Munich heroics in Champions League semis.
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19:21 - 08.05.2024
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14-time winners of the Champions League, Real Madrid always fight till the very end. Two seasons ago, they stunned Manchester City at the Etihad with two late goals from Rodrygo and last night, Bayern Munich also had a taste of Los Blancos bitter medicine.
Joselu rescues Real Madrid from certain elimination
Carlo Ancelotti had rang the changes to try and salvage something from the game, sending on Luca Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Brahim Diaz, and Joselu. However, it was the former Stoke City player who was the game-changer.
First, he reacted quickest when the impressive Manuel Neuer spilled Vinicius Junior’s shot to draw Los Blancos level.
Joselu would later complete the comeback in added time, managing to stay onside to apply a deft finish to a sweet square pass from Antonio Rudiger. The goal was initially ruled for offside but confirmed after a VAR check.
There was drama late on when Bayern Munich thought they had equalised but the linesman had wrongly raised his flag for offside, so VAR couldn’t intervene.
Ancelotti full of praise for Joselu
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In his post-match conference, Carlo Ancelotti waxed lyrical about a man who was only brought in to provide cover as a team player.
"We believed. Joselu did a fantastic job. He is a fantastic striker. We did really well and had a lot of energy at the end of the game,” Ancelotti said.
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08:43 - 07.05.2024
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21:12 - 08.05.2024
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Two seasons ago, Joselu suffered consecutive relegations with his former clubs, Alaves and Espanyol, before he sealed a loan move to Real Madrid.
Joselu’s 16 goals in 34 games for Espanyol wasn’t enough to keep them in the top flight, but it made the 34-year-old Spaniard the third-highest goal scorer in La Liga - only behind former Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema (19) and Robert Lewandowski (23).
More silverware for Joselu?
Joselu, who had had stints in England (Newcastle, Stoke), Germany (Hannover 96, TSG Hoffenheim) and Spain (Celta Vigo, Real Madrid, Alaves, Espanyol), only recently won his first two club career trophies - the 2023–24 Supercopa de España and the 2023-2024 La Liga both with Real Madrid.
His two goals have also ensured Real Madrid will now be overwhelming favourites when they face Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final on June 1 for a chance to lift the trophy for the 15th time in the club’s history.
Will Joselu be the hero in the Wembley final? We can only wait to find out.
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