(Football news) Often in football the word legacy is used to describe any club's history. Real Madrid's legacy is richer than any other club in the world. Real Madrid on Wednesday night were dead and buried in the 89th minute of their UCL semi final 2nd leg against Manchester City. At the Santiago Bernabeu, City had a 1-0 lead while the blues had a two goal advantage on aggregate. Los Blancos needed two goals to bring the tie back on level terms with only 1 minute plus added time left. Carlo Ancelotti's men had failed to get a shot off target for the entire 2nd leg but then Real Madrid showed why they are the Kings of Europe.
Substitute Rodrygo pulled two goals back in the space of 2 minutes to send the game into extra time. In the 95th minute, Karim Benzema won and scored a penalty to book Real Madrid's ticket to the final in Paris. This wasn't the first time Madrid had launched a comeback like this. This season alone Real Madrid have come back from the jaws of UCL elimination 3 times in 3 knockout ties. In the Round of 16, Real Madrid were 2-0 down with 45 minutes to go against PSG. Karim Benzema scored an incredible hat-trick to send Madrid to the quarter finals. Los Blancos defeated Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge thanks to another Karim Benzema hat-trick. At the Bernabeu, Chelsea recovered and scored 3 goals to go 4-3 up on aggregate. With 10 minutes left to play Rodrygo equalised after hitting a first time volley off Luka Modric's pass of the season. Benzema scored in extra time as Real Madrid won 5-4 on aggregate.
In the semi final Real Madrid were up against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. At the Etihad, City won 4-3 despite being much the better team. Real Madrid were outplayed in the game but still only lost by one goal. City had a two goal lead 3 times but Madrid came back every time. In the return leg, Los Blancos were a goal down but couldn't manage to get a shot on target until the 90th minute. Riyad Mahrez's goal gave City a two goal advantage but Real Madrid were not done. Super-sub Rodrygo scored two goals in 2 minutes to bring Real Madrid on level terms. In extra time Karim Benzema won and scored the penalty to win the tie.
Madrid were branded lucky by many experts and journalists. Luka Modric before the game said "It's impossible to beat so many teams, champions, to reach so many semi-finals, just by luck. Let them think what they want. This is an unfair opinion and they only make us laugh." Real Madrid have made it to the semi finals of 10 out of the last 12 seasons, they won it 4 times in 5 years including 3 back to back. If a club after winning a competition as big as the UCL 13 times and is still called lucky then it surely isn't right. If Real Madrid win the final against Liverpool then they will have 14 UCLs which is twice more than the next successful club which is AC Milan with 7.
A little luck definitely plays a part but Real Madrid's grit and it's never say die attitude surpasses everything. The magic of the Santiago Bernabeu produces comebacks like this. When Inter won the first leg of the 1984/84 UEFA Cup semi final by 2-0, Real Madrid legend Juanito said "90 minutes at the Bernabeu is a very long time". This has been proven true by Real Madrid time after time including this season thrice. This run by the Merengues is one of the most iconic and dramatic in the history of the competition. Manchester United had one such dramatic run in 1999 when they ended up winning the treble but this run by Real Madrid may have already surpassed that. The only trouble for them is that the final will not be at the Bernabeu but their players Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Karim Benzema have all won 4 UCLs in their career and they certainly have what it takes to win another one.
Also read: Real Madrid reach the UCL final with yet another dramatic comeback
