Why was Real Madrid’s Joselu ruled onside for second goal against Bayern?

The striker’s second goal in the Champions League semi-final was initially ruled out for offside but VAR overturned the decision after a check.

Real Madrid turned around their Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich is the most dramatic fashion possible, with VAR allowing Joselu’s second goal of the game, which proved to be the winner, after referee Szymon Marciniak had initially ruled it out for offside.

Moments after he had capitalised on a mistake from Manuel Neuer to level the match, Joselu was all alone in the middle of the box to convert Antonio Rüdiger’s square pass as the game entered injury-time.

The flag immediately went up and the goal was disallowed, but it quickly became apparently from replays that the Madrid striker was not, in fact, in an offside position.

Although Joselu was ahead of the Bayern defence, he crucially wasn’t ahead of the ball as Rüdiger crossed into the middle. Players can only be judged offside from a forward pass, which meant no offence had been committed.

After a 2-2 draw in he first leg in Munich, Madrid looked to be in trouble after Alphonso Davies’ stunning strike midway through the second half. However, Joselu’s late double set the Spaniards up for a Wembley final against Borussia Dortmund on 1 June.