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Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Friday, 27 April 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Reuters: Bayern Munich summoned up all their famous resilience to oust Real Madrid in a nerve-jangling Champions League penalty shootout on Wednesday, denying Jose Mourinho’s expensively-assembled side a tilt at a 10th European crown and setting up a final showdown against Chelsea next month.
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stopped spot-kicks from Cristiano Ronaldo, who had given Real an early 2-0 lead in the semi-final second leg, and Kaka in the shootout before Bastian Schweinsteiger struck the decisive penalty to send the Germans through to the title match to be played at their own Allianz Arena on May 19.
Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, who won the Champions League with Real in 1998, revelled in the German club’s unexpected but deserved triumph at his former stomping ground in the Spanish capital, while Mourinho was left to ponder his side’s second consecutive elimination at the last-four stage.
Real’s latest setback in Europe’s elite club competition is a huge blow for the combative Portuguese and club president Florentino Perez, who has spent hundreds of millions of euros chasing the elusive ‘decima’, or 10th continental title.
It also left Spain in a state of shock after Chelsea survived the dismissal of captain John Terry and fought back from two goals down to send holders Barcelona crashing out 3-2 on aggregate in their semi-final second leg on Tuesday.
