Real Madrid reach Champions League final with emphatic win in Munich

BERLIN — Real Madrid reached the Champions League final with a stunning 4-0 win at Bayern Munich Tuesday which secured a 5-0 aggregate semi-final victory.

A double from Sergio Ramos, both scored from set pieces, and a fantastic goal on the break by Cristiano Ronaldo effectively ended the contest inside 34 minutes.

Ronaldo's goal was his 15th in the Champions League this season, a record for a single campaign, and he added another to his tally with a last minute free kick.

But that personal record pales in comparison to Real having the chance to secure a 10th triumph in Europe's elite club competition.

"We are happy to be in the final but still have one game to go, "Real's Gareth Bale said in an ITV television interview. "Everybody put in 100 per cent - no matter who it was they put in a performance.

"This is why I wanted to come to the biggest club in the world - to win trophies in massive games."

"We still haven't won it yet, we have a difficult game in the final whoever it may be but I'm looking forward to it."

Madrid had not won in Munich in 10 previous attempts but immediately imposed themselves against a Bayern side which looked vulnerable on the counter-attack.

"We failed today against a great team," said Bayern sport director Matthias Sammer. "We were champions last year, now we have to behave like champions and accept the defeat."

Bayern's grip on the trophy they were so keen to defend was weakened in the 16th minute when Ramos broke the deadlock by rising highest in the box to meet a corner from Luka Modric.

By that time Gareth Bale had already fired over an almost open goal after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was unconvincing in clearing a long through ball.

The corner which led to the first goal had been earned by virtue of a fast break but it was another set piece which made the situation worse for Bayern in the 20th minute.

Again Ramos was the scorer, this time heading home after Pepe had flicked on Angel di Maria's free kick.

Bayern failed to force visiting keeper Iker Casillas into a single save in the first half and were sliced open in the 34th minute when Bale raced clear and squared for Ronaldo to score his historic goal.

After the break Bayern fought gamely in search of the five goals required for an unlikely turnaround but Real were rarely troubled.

Arjen Robben curled a shot just wide before Casillas was finally called into action, if hardly tested, to save a low shot from Franck Ribery.

It was a frustrating match for Ribery who was lucky not to have been sent off in the first half when he appeared to slap Daniel Carvajal.

Substitute Mario Goetze made space in the box with a lovely turn only to shoot over the bar when he really should have scored.

But such clear opportunities for Bayern remained rare in what was another impressive performance from Madrid, who scored a fourth in the final minute when Ronaldo converted a direct free kick.

The only black mark for Real on the night was midfielder Xabi Alonso collecting a yellow card which rules him out of the final through suspension.

Chelsea host Atletico Madrid, after a goalless first leg, in the second semi-final Wednesday to determine who joins Real in Lisbon for the May 24 final.