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Bayern fume over offside decision in Champions League semi-final

Linesman apologises but Bayern boss Tuchel furious

Tuchel: Referees' decision-making was 'a joke'

MADRID, May 9 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich were left fuming following a late offside decision against them in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt had a 103rd-minute equaliser controversially flagged offside. The linesman said sorry but that does not help the German champions.

"It was a joke," Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel said. "The linesman made a huge mistake. It's unbelievable that such a decision can be made at this level."

The offside decision was extremely close, and replays showed that de Ligt may have been onside. However, the linesman's decision was final.

Tuchel said that the linesman who made the call had apologised to him after the game, but that did not make up for the fact that Bayern had been denied a clear goal.

"The linesman said sorry, but that does not help us," Tuchel said. "We have been robbed of a goal. It's a disgrace."

Bayern will now have to overturn a 2-1 deficit in the second leg in Munich next week. However, Tuchel said that he was confident that his team could still reach the final.

"We have to score goals in Munich," Tuchel said. "It will be difficult, but we believe that we can do it."

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