Controversial Decisions Overshadow Real Madrid’s Victory over Bayern in Champions League Semi-Final

In a contentious Champions League semi-final clash, Real Madrid secured a dramatic victory over Bayern, but the match was marred by controversial decisions that have sparked debate.

The semi-final tie saw hosts Madrid come from behind with substitute Joselu turning the game in the final minutes after Bayern had initially led through an Alphonso Davies strike.

As the match reached its climax, Bayern thought they had salvaged an equalizer when Matthijs de Ligt netted a late goal. However, the assistant referee’s flag was raised just before De Ligt’s shot, leading to the goal being disallowed.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin seemed to pause upon seeing the flag, halting before De Ligt’s attempt. The decision by the assistant referee and ref Szymon Marciniak to disallow the goal left Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel fuming.

Tuchel criticized the officials for not following proper VAR protocol and raised concerns about the early flag, which prevented any VAR intervention. He expressed frustration at what he deemed a «disastrous decision» that ultimately impacted the outcome of the match.

Moreover, Tuchel faced backlash for substituting star striker Harry Kane in the 85th minute, a move that was heavily scrutinized after Madrid’s late comeback. Former players and pundits like Owen Hargreaves and Paul Scholes criticized the decision, labeling it as «arrogant» and questioning the choice to take off a prolific goalscorer like Kane.

Despite the controversy, Joselu’s late brace secured Madrid’s place in the final, dashing Bayern’s hopes of silverware this season and marking a significant end to their trophy aspirations.

Bayern’s elimination also signals the first time since 2011-12 that they will finish a season without securing any silverware, with Bayer Leverkusen clinching the Bundesliga title in an unbeaten campaign under manager Xavi Alonso.