No Haaland in GOAL's Premier League Team of the Season

Jurgen Klopp: More than a manager

Hayes and the WSL winners & losers of the 2023-24 season

Dortmund's prolific 'problem child' with an unclear future

Six reasons why Man City are set up for future WSL success

Another offer for Mourinho! Two clubs in talks to hire ex-Roma boss

Ronaldo's touching message on Georgina Rodriguez dress

Ronaldo has say Arsenal and City's final-day title battle

Guardiola explains why Arsenal pose threat to City dominance

Reynolds and McElhenney make key Wrexham appointment

Modric and Kroos to stay at Real Madrid after agreeing extensions

Transfers LIVE: Real plot audacious bid for Mac Allister 

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>German giants held narrow one-goal lead</li><li>England international replaced late on</li><li>Joselu turned the tie on its head</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Explained: Why 44-goal Harry Kane was subbed by Bayern Munich moments before dramatic Champions League semi-final collapse started against Real Madrid

The German giants appeared to be on course for a final date with domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1, with Canada international <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-alphonso-davies-thunderbolt-outrageous-goal-bayern-munich-champions-league-real-madrid/blt1edd5f79757adb86" target="_blank">Alphonso Davies firing them in front at Santiago Bernabeu with a spectacular strike</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In the 85th minute, Tuchel made the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/harry-kane-trophy-curse-no-chance-real-madrid-champions-league-voodoo-winners-losers-joselu-wembley/blta5ffff5ee8801643" target="_blank">surprising decision to replace prolific England striker Kane</a> with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, despite there still being the possibility of extra-time and penalties. Three minutes later, Real substitute Joselu was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/bayern-munich-player-ratings-vs-real-madrid-manuel-neuer/blt35b378e4ae981c2f" target="_blank">gifted an equaliser by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer</a> – before going on to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-joselu-hero-real-madrid-super-sub-champions-league-semi-final-on-manuel-neuer-howler-var-check/bltdadb7e3db94cd862" target="_blank">snatch a 91st-minute winner</a> that was awarded following a VAR offside review.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Quizzed afterwards on why Kane was taken off in a game with so much riding on it, Tuchel said: “He couldn't keep going. He played with back pain and he couldn't keep going, his back froze up. We started with a front four and all four had to go out with injury or cramp. The front four all said they had to go. It hurts. It’ll take a while to recover, but on the one hand it’s a loss where we left it all out on the pitch. Of course, it’s tough to accept. It’s part of reality. No regrets. But on the other, there were too many injuries, a few too many substitutions, too many cramps.”

WHAT TUCHEL SAID

Former Bayern midfielder Owen Hargreaves told <a href="https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1788318771930689814" target="_blank">TNT Sports</a> of the decision to replace a proven goalscorer: “I'll tell you what was unexpected, Harry Kane going off the pitch. That's one of the biggest subs I've ever seen in a game of football of that magnitude. To take off a guy that's scored 44 goals, who is the most durable player pretty much anywhere and you bring on another striker in Choupo-Moting. Maybe he wanted height for corners, I don't know. You cannot take him off. There's five minutes left in the game, there's 10 minutes of extra-time, 15 minutes.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Kane is now <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/everyone-laughing-england-harry-kane-selfish-robert-lewandowski-record-bayern-munich-trophy-bid/blt802d3f428a3edcce" target="_blank">destined to end his debut campaign with Bayern empty-handed</a>, having already seen domestic honours fall out of reach. Questions have been asked of his future, along with that of Tuchel who is set to leave, with some big decisions needing to be made at the Allianz Arena this summer.

WHAT NEXT?

Explained: Why 44-goal Harry Kane was subbed by Bayern Munich moments before dramatic Champions League semi-final collapse started against Real Madrid | Goal.com

Thomas Tuchel has explained why he subbed 44-goal Harry Kane moments before Bayern Munich’s dramatic Champions League collapse at Real Madrid.

Editors' Picks