Real Madrid. They probably should have gone out in the last 16. And, somehow, on Wednesday night, they forced extra time out of nowhere in the semi-final second leg against Manchester City at the Bernabeu, and then went on to win the tie on aggregate.
How on Earth this Real Madrid team are in the Champions League final we don't know. They should have been knocked out in the last 16. They could easily have been knocked out in the quarter finals. They were a minute away from being knocked out in the semi-finals.
They were completely outplayed for most of Wednesday's second leg against Manchester City. Other than a short period at the start of the second half, Real Madrid were on the back foot for most of the game and entered the final minute 1-0 down, and 5-3 down on aggregate.
Incredibly, substitute Rodrygo would score with Real's second and third shots on target of the entire game, to force extra time and leave Pep Guardiola and City shell shocked. Karim Benzema would go on to continue his ludicrous run of form and win the tie for the Madridistas, and the footballing world was in complete shock.
Real Madrid pull off craziest CL comeback yet
When Riyad Mahrez scored to put City 1-0 up in Madrid on Wednesday night, it seemed as though we were destined for the third all-English final in four years.
The goal that has Manchester City on their way to a second consecutive Champions League final 👀
| Watch every UCL game for free here on the LiveScore app: https://t.co/asGxlTfSUJ. Registered ROI users only. #adpic.twitter.com/DNJyspeDWU— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) May 4, 2022
Real Madrid, however, had other ideas.
The recently crowned Spanish champions decided to move up a gear in the final minute of play, as substitute Rodrygo scored to give Madrid a lifeline. Incredibly, just one minute later, he would score a second and force extra-time, tying the game 5-5 on aggregate in the first minute of extra time.
The quick-fire nature of the comeback was not over yet. Just five minutes into extra time, Real won a penalty after a foul on Karim Benzema. Just as he did in the first leg, Benzema converted from the spot to send Real to Paris on May 28.
Incredibly, Real Madrid lead this tie for the first time ⚪️
Who else, Karim Benzema 🎯 pic.twitter.com/kEsKed8AfV— Watch the UCL on LiveScore 🇮🇪 (@LiveScoreIE) May 4, 2022
The comeback left Manchester City shell shocked, as three goals in just over ten minutes of game time turned the tie on its head and knocked Pep Guardiola's side out of the last four.
The football community on Twitter was similarly shell shocked.
Real Madrid in the 90th min pic.twitter.com/8BOQcYsNgV
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) May 4, 2022
ancelotti just did this and real madrid made 3 comebacks 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ITpLdNIYqs
— ⚡ (@UTDCJ_) May 4, 2022
Everyone: “Game over. Man City vs Liverpool in the final.”
Real Madrid: pic.twitter.com/Sxvg8dT4mx— ALAN (@Wotyyt) May 4, 2022
Real Madrid in last minutes #ChampionsLeague #ManCityVsRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/ow4djRuPtx
— H A S S A N M U N I R (@hassan_munir10) May 4, 2022
Real Madrid in the Champions League 2016-2022 pic.twitter.com/fomZBy1zTQ
— Dodge (@seidodge) May 4, 2022
Real Madrid the whole game vs Real Madrid in min 90' pic.twitter.com/zjtPKMnILA
— Miquid Litr0 (@moxafnbr) May 4, 2022
We should've known Real Madrid had that up their sleeves. They always find a way. #RMAMCI pic.twitter.com/LW67CsocBj
— COPA90 (@Copa90) May 4, 2022
Rodrygo coming on in the 68th minute: pic.twitter.com/qjWiI2M39f
— Sam 🔴 (@samlfc5) May 4, 2022
Real Madrid will now face Liverpool in the Champions League final in Paris on May 28.
