Closer - Madrid into UEFA CL final, eye historic third straight title

MADRID (AP):

Real Madrid conceded early again but held on to draw 2-2 against Bayern Munich yesterday and reach their third straight UEFA Champions League final 4-3 on aggregate.

Joshua Kimmich scored for Bayern in the third minute to set the stage for another comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu, like the one Juventus nearly pulled off in the quarter-finals. But the hosts reacted quickly this time, with Karim Benzema equalising early in the first half and scoring again just after half-time after an embarrassing mistake by Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich when trying to meet a back pass into the area.

Bayern came within a goal of eliminating the European champions when former Madrid player James Rodriguez scored in the 63rd, but it was not enough to avoid its third straight elimination against the Spanish club.

The Germans, who have now been knocked out in the Champions League semi-finals in four of the last five seasons, pressured until the end but could not keep alive their hopes of a treble.

By successfully defending its 2-1 win from the first leg last week, Madrid stayed on track for a third consecutive European title, and fourth in five seasons.

Europe's most successful club with 12 trophies, Madrid will play the final against either Liverpool or Roma, who play in Italy today. Liverpool won the first leg 5-2 at home.