Bayern Munich 2 Real Madrid 1

Real Madrid win 3-2 on aggregate

The dream dies again for Bayern Munich but Real Madrid marched into their 11th European Cup final despite a 2-1 defeat in Munich.

A vital away goal in the first half from prodigal striker Nicolas Anelka put the Spaniards in control of the tie but Bayern attacked incessantly to try and overcome a two goal deficit from the first leg.

Real have now ensured a Spanish final in Paris on May 24th as Valencia take a 4-1 lead to FC Barcelona tomorrow night to join the Madrid club in the principle European club event.

Bayern dominated the game from the start and events were going well as Carsten Jancker gave the Bundesliga champions a 12th minute lead.

Elber headed the ball across the face of goal after a deep cross from the left by Jeremies and Jancker got in front of his marker to hit it on the volley into the roof of the net for an excellent finish that thrilled the home fans. They started to believe that Bayern could repeat the second phase form that saw them batter eight goals past Real in two matches in March. Jancker had come close to a 3rd minute goal when he powered in a low header that went narrowly wide. Mehmet Scholl created an 8th minute chance for Bixente Lizarazu but the French defender just missed with a glancing header.

These moves were the peak of Bayern's creativity in the first half but shortly after taking the lead Nicolas Anelka was released with an angled pass that allowed him to carry the ball into penalty area but he slipped over as he started to think about a possible finish.

The warning was there and Anelka provided two more good shots before he rose to head in a 32nd minute Savio cross. The snap header wide of Kahn was a great piece of work from Anelka who had to meet a cross that was moving away from goal and direct his finish into the corner of the net.

Anelka almost scored again in the 43rd minute with a snap shot from outside the penalty area that Kahn did well to dive and parry.

Bayern were back in business in the 54th minute but needed at least two more goals to reach the final. Stefan Efenberg drove a free kick into the penalty area and Elber sank a header into the net and Real went into complete reverse to try and defend their advantage. Steve McManaman cleared off the line indicating the extent that the Spanish side gave up on attack but Bayern could not get back into the tie. The spectre of Anelka's pace made the Germans wary of conceding a further away goal and they lost sweeper Jens Jeremies to a broken collar bone as the tie settled with the Spanish club.