A man with German roots drove the sting of defeat deep into Bayern’s flesh: Joselu saved Real Madrid’s participation in the Champions League final with two goals.
It was the night of Jose Luis Sanmartin Mato. The two late goals from Joselu, as he is succinctly known, pushed Real Madrid into the final of the Champions League. And FC Bayern into the deep valley of tears. “Real never dies,” was the headline of the Italian “Gazzetta dello Sport” late in the night. And Spain’s “Marca” cheered: “Real Madrid doesn’t allow rivals. When it came down to it, the proud Bavarians fell to their knees like everyone else!”
Joselu, of all people, was the decisive man for Real. The man who wasn’t really intended for this big match. The Stuttgart native only came onto the pitch in the 81st minute of the clash against Bayern Munich and turned things around with his goals.
New bug exploited coldly
Thanks to Joselu, who once also hunted for goals for TSG Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hannover 96, the “Royal” won 2-1 (0-0) and secured their ticket to the final against Borussia Dortmund in the legendary Wembley Stadium on June 1st.
“The first goal was about being smart,” said Joselu, who equalized Bayern’s lead through Alphonso Davies (68th) in the 88th minute after a mistake by Manuel Neuer: “They were tired, in a deep block , you could see that.”
“I prayed”
The 34-year-old’s second goal (90+1) on an assist from national player Antonio Rüdiger was initially called back for offside, but was ultimately recognized according to the video images. “I prayed that it wouldn’t be revoked,” Joselu said. And was enthralled by his teammates: “This team never gives up, it’s in their blood to fight until the end,” said Real’s hero of the evening.
The fact that Joselu, of all people, would one day become a Real Madrid hero when he was a mature footballer is something that hardly anyone could have predicted.
Almost lost in the English provinces
It was 2016 when the attacker, who had previously more or less failed in German football, ended up at Stoke City in England. And his career seemed almost over. Because Joselu didn’t even make it into the matchday squad for the Premier League team in the championship. Instead, he came on as a late substitute after agonizing minutes on the substitutes’ bench in a provincial cup game at Stokes in Stevenage, 40 kilometers north of London.
Quit professional football or try somewhere else? Joselu chose the second alternative – and it worked. The Spaniard returned to his parents’ homeland and agreed to a loan to Deportivo La Coruna, where he got back into the swing of things. This was followed by a move to Newcastle United and finally back to Spain, to Deportiva Alaves. And that’s where he really blossomed. Scored almost 40 goals in three seasons and demonstrated his reputation as a good man who has one thing above all else: a nose for goal.
Edgar Endres, Sportschau, May 8, 2024 11:46 p.m
As an emergency nail to the hero of Real Madrid
And so Joselu’s story actually ends at Real Madrid. In 2023, after the departure of star striker Benzema, they were desperate for some kind of successor. There was no one on the market – and so the Royals at least brought in the man with the nose for goals – as a backup, so to speak.
All of this has now paid off – for the player and the club. After his heroic act on Wednesday evening, Joselu fell on the pitch at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and could no longer hold back tears of joy. “Not even in my best dreams did I imagine something like this,” said the former Bundesliga professional after his late brace in the semi-finals of the Champions League for Real Madrid: “I don’t know if I’m a hero, but I’m very happy . It was incredible, something spectacular.”