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MADRID — Real Madrid striker Joselu was in dreamland after he came on in the dying moments of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich on Wednesday and turned the game on its head with two goals to snatch a stunning victory.
Joselu, whose journeyman career has included spells at clubs such as Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hannover 96, Stoke City and Newcastle United, only touched the ball a few times in their 2-1 second-leg win, but it was a night he is likely to remember for a long time.
Here’s Joselu supporting Real Madrid in Paris, Champions League final 2022.
Two years later, he’s sending Real Madrid to Champions League final after scoring a brace just before extra time.❗️ He joined Real Madrid on loan from 2nd division Espanyol.
Football. pic.twitter.com/aQGdcaZksS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 8, 2024
He pounced on a rare mistake by Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer and stabbed the ball into the net to equalize for Real in the 88th minute and two minutes later he volleyed them into the lead from a cross by Antonio Rüdiger.
Joselu goals vs Bayern
REAL MADRID ALWAYS FIND A WAY pic.twitter.com/ZynoERYRV4
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 8, 2024
REAL MADRID TURN IT AROUND AT THE DEATH pic.twitter.com/gwWLFaknOC
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 8, 2024
"I don't know anything about being a hero, but I'm very happy... You can imagine," he said. "It was incredible, something spectacular. This team never gives up, it's in its blood to fight to the end and that's what we've done.
"You always dream of this kind of performance, but not even my most beautiful dreams are as big as what happened today."
On loan from second division side Espanyol, Joselu's journey to becoming the semi-final hero has been long and winding in a career involving a dozen clubs across Europe.
He began his career at Celta Vigo before being bought in 2009 by Real Madrid, where he excelled in their B team but rarely made it to the first team.
He was sold to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in 2012 and then loaned to Eintracht Frankfurt before joining Hannover 96 in 2014.
In 2015 he moved to Premier League side Stoke City, playing 27 times and scoring four goals, before spending two seasons at Newcastle United. He returned to Spain with Alaves where he scored 36 times in three seasons.
An incredible fairytale for 34-year-old Joselu, who is on loan at Real Madrid from Espanyol.
- Managed just 10 Premier League goals with Stoke and Newcastle combined.☹️
- Relegated with Alaves in 2021/22.
- Relegated with Espanyol in 2022/23.
- Went to the 2022 #UCL Final… pic.twitter.com/Ib11EPmqmw— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) May 8, 2024
He signed as a free agent with Espanyol in the summer of 2022 and a year later was loaned to Real and has scored nine goals in 32 appearances this season in LaLiga.
Joselu, who was born in Stuttgart in Germany, made his debut for Spain aged 33, coming off the bench against Norway to score twice in two minutes in March 2023.
"I don’t think Joselu will be sleeping much tonight, he’ll be useless in training tomorrow!" teammate Jude Bellingham said. "He deserves it all, he’s been an amazing member of the squad all season and it’s his night."
(Reporting by Charlie DevereuxEditing by Toby Davis)
