Remember Joselu? That Spanish striker that couldn’t hit a barn door for Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle? Well, he’s just sent Real Madrid to the final of the UEFA Champions League with a late brace at the Bernabeu.
Almost five years after he left St James’ Park for Spain in a £2m move to Alaves, the 34-year-old – currently on loan at Real from second-division side Espanyol – scored in the 88th and 91st minute to help the La Liga giants beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in Wednesday night’s semi-final second leg.
Madrid were 1-0 down with minutes remaining and on the brink of being dumped out, but the former Stoke forward delivered the goods to set up a final with Borussia Dortmund on June 1st. Watch both of his goals below:
JOSELU IS MADRID'S HERO! 🤩
A rare mistake from Manuel Neuer 😬
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/lcoUIfsyos
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2024
THE SCENESSSS! 🤯
Joselu comes off the bench to turn the game around ⚽️⚽️
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/7w0BDseh7y
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2024
On a night where Brazilian superstar Vinicius Junior or England sensation Jude Bellingham couldn’t find a way past Manuel Neuer, it’s quite incredible that it was Joselu – a boyhood Real fan – who turned things around just when Bayern looked set to seal their place in the final.
As famous darts commentator Sid Waddell once said, “I can’t believe my Geordie eyes!”
Players only perform if they play in a system that suits them, the system under Rafa didn’t play to his strengths so it is not unusual for a player to flourish elsewhere.
joseph(Quote)
Congratulations to Joselu.
Overlooking the slightly relevant point of playing alongside world
class players elevating performance in your rush to poke at Benitez, who certainly wasn’t the saviour portrayed by many of the toon army but was the best of those post-SBR and pre-Howe managers.
We all know what the real problem was tho
getreal(Quote)