Our Champions League awards honour the best – and worst – of the competition’s semi-final action this week.
Moment of the Week
Real Madrid’s remarkable record in this competition continues as the record winners booked their place in another Champions League final.
Not for the first time, Real made hard work of it. Rodrygo’s late brace had turned their semi-final on its ahead against Manchester City two years ago and the Spanish side were thankful for another dramatic double in the last four once again.
Joselu came off the bench to rescue Real, turning in from Manuel Neuer’s error on 88 minutes, before converting a stoppage-time winner to spark wild celebrations at the Bernabeu.
Semifinal vs. Man City (2022)
▪️ Down 5-4 until 90th minute
▪️ Rodrygo scores two in stoppage time to force ET
▪️ Madrid go on to win the tieSemifinal vs. Bayern (2024)
▪️ Down 3-2 until 88th minute
▪️ Joselu scores two to win the tieNo one does it like Real Madrid ???? pic.twitter.com/xm5SvLzeBe
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 8, 2024
There’s a magic about Real Madrid on this stage.
Player of the Week
Who would have thought it? Real Madrid, a team that in the past and present has been home to some of world football’s greatest names, a club who has long been famed for Galactico signings, rescued on the biggest stage by the most unlikely of additions.
Joselu’s résumé before this season included no trophies, underwhelming Premier League spells at Newcastle and Stoke, and back-to-back La Liga relegations in each of the last two seasons.
A stop-gap signing on loan from second-tier Espanyol in the summer, the 34-year-old has responded with 17 goals this season, none more important than his match-winning brace deep into the Champions League semi-finals this week.
What a story.
Cold, wet night in Stoke ❌
Warm, spring night in Madrid ✅Joselu’s career has been a wild ride ???? pic.twitter.com/C4vlOt3pJ8
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) May 9, 2024
An honourable mention must go to Mats Hummels. Man-of-the-match performances in both legs against Paris Saint-Germain, the veteran defender will return to Wembley for a Champions League final, 11 years after forming part of the Dortmund side who last reached the decider.
He might be no spring chicken anymore, but class is permanent.
35-year-old Mats Hummels picked up MOTM awards in BOTH legs against PSG ???? pic.twitter.com/4fZUe7heU6
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2024
Goal of the Week
Bayern Munich’s season will end without silverware for the first time since 2011/12, after exiting the Champions League at Real Madrid.
The German giants were minutes from a place in the final, leading until the 88th minute through Alphonso Davies’ delightful drive. The Canadian had never previously scored a Champions League goal, and he’s unlikely to score a better one.
ALPHONSO DAVIES ????????
What a way to score his ????????????????????-???????????????? #UCL goal! ????
???? @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/6PzZEXYpzS
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2024
Photo of the Week
Marcos Reus will end his 12-year spell at Borussia Dortmund in the summer. The club great’s final game in Black and Yellow will be a Champions League final.
Iconic, indeed.
Iconic ???????? pic.twitter.com/23zyPcqd3t
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2024
Save of the Week
Manuel Neuer’s semi-final performance will, sadly, be remembered for the error that handed Real Madrid a late equaliser.
Up until that point, the goalkeeping great had produced a masterclass keep out Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. The 38-year-old made a string of saves, including this double-stop with the game goalless.
It’s a fine line between hero and villain status for goalkeepers.
⚡️ A quick throw-in while the ball is in play
???? Vinicius Jr hitting the post
???? Neuer saves the rebound???????????????????????? few moments at the Bernabeu! ????
???? @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/eSAe06o3tb
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2024
Stat of the Week
Joselu has now scored more goals in Champions League semi-finals than he scored at the Britannia Stadium. https://t.co/kO0wgGqERc
— Richard Jolly ???????? (@RichJolly) May 8, 2024
Tweet of the Week
If you’d told me a few years ago that in 2024 I’d be sat watching a game where Joselu’s been subbed on to stop Eric Dier getting to a cup final I’d honestly have assumed it was the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy
— Adam Clery (@AdamClery) May 8, 2024
Elsewhere, when it came to post-game shithousery, Borussia Dortmund hadn’t forgotten a previous trip to Paris…
Dortmund didn’t forget ????????♂️ pic.twitter.com/xh9I3i749f
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2024
Read – Tuchel bemoans Bayern ‘betrayal’ after linesman controversy
See more – Hummels confident Dortmund can be crowned European champions
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