Bayern Munich goalkeeper, Sven Ulreich, committed a huge blunder and was punished by Karim Benzema as two-time defending champions Real Madrid progressed to the Champions League final for the third year in a row.
Ulreich inexplicably allowed a backpass from Corentin Tolisso to evade him to gift Karim Benzema his second goal of the night at the Bernabeu, in a pulsating 2-2 draw which ensured Real progressed 4-3 on aggregate.
Bayern had led early through Joshua Kimmich and a strike from James Rodriguez – who is on loan at the German club from Real – set up a tense finish.
The defending champions will play Liverpool or Roma in the final in Kiev later this month, with the Premier League side leading 5-2 after the first leg.
The defeat was harsh on Bayern, who dominated large spells of the game.
Knowing they needed to score at least twice, the Germans went straight on the attack and set the tie alight as they snatched the lead after just three minutes.
Franck Ribery sent the ball out wide and Tolisso whipped in a cross from the right. Sergio Ramos should have dealt with it but failed to clear and Kimmich pounced from close range.
Real responded quickly and Cristiano Ronaldo went close to levelling as he fired wide from six yards.
The equaliser came on 11 minutes as Mateo Kovacic spread play and Marcelo delivered a superb cross to the back post. He picked out an unmarked Benzema, who rose to power home a header.
The visitors then spurned a gilt-edged opportunity just after the half-hour mark as Rodriguez volleyed over from close range after Keylor Navas saved from Robert Lewandowski.
Ulreich’s gaffe handed Real the lead in the first minute of the second half.
Madrid, playing in their 250th Champions League match, are the first team to make it to three European finals in succession since Juventus from 1996-98.
