However, amidst the euphoria of Real's victory, tensions flared as representatives of the German club voiced grievances against Polish referee Szymon Marciniak for a controversial decision in added time that ultimately influenced the outcome of the match.
The Wednesday match witnessed an intense battle until the last moments, with Real Madrid trailing 0-1 until the 88th minute. However, a stunning comeback ensued, with two crucial goals from Joselu securing Carlo Ancelotti's side a spot in the final. The second half extended by a staggering 15 minutes, primarily due to various stoppages.
In a pivotal moment, assistant referee Tomasz Listkiewicz flagged an offside in an action culminating in Matthijs De Ligt finding the back of the net. Referee Szymon Marciniak promptly halted play, disallowing the goal.
While television replays failed to provide conclusive evidence regarding the decision's correctness, Bayern Munich players and coach Thomas Tuchel expressed vehement discontent towards Marciniak's call.
"A catastrophe. An absolute disaster. With the second goal for Real, he allowed the game to continue. The clear rule is that the action must go on. The first mistake was made by the line judge, the second by the main referee. It was a clear violation of the rules," Tuchel lamented in an interview with DAZN.
Adding fuel to the fire, Bayern's sporting director, Max Eberl, insinuated that "Polish referees" may have favored Real Madrid to prevent an "all-German final" against Borussia Dortmund.
Despite the discord surrounding the match, Real Madrid remains steadfast in their pursuit of their 15th European Cup title, slated for June 1 at London's Wembley Stadium against Borussia Dortmund.
(jh)
Source: Polskie Radio 24