Real Madrid rode their luck and overcame an outstanding challenge from Borussia Dortmund to win the Champions League at Wembley.
Carlo Ancelotti wrote more history with his fifth win as coach in the competition, while Real claimed the crown for the 15th time in trademark fashion as they survived a torrid first half and several missed opportunities from Dortmund before coming out on top.
Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi missed two first-half chances and striker Niclas Fullkrug hit the post, with recalled Real keeper Thibaut Courtois also providing a formidable barrier.
Real, inevitably, raised the stakes, with Dani Carvajal glancing home a header from a corner 16 minutes from time before Vinicius Jr raced clear on to Jude Bellingham’s pass to add a second nine minutes later.
It crowned a glorious first season at Real for England’s Bellingham, but it was a night of disappointment for compatriot Jadon Sancho, who is on loan to Dortmund from Manchester United.
Ruthless Real Madrid masters again
Jude Bellingham helped Real win the trophy at the age of 20
Real Madrid’s late surge to claim another victory in Europe’s elite tournament carried an air of inevitability as they proved they are a ruthless winning machine when it comes to the Champions League.
As they have done previously in the competition this season, and in seasons before, Real stumbled along in the first half as they were pinned back by the intensity of Borussia Dortmund’s approach.
Real barely put together an attack worthy of the name while hanging on by the skin of their teeth at the other end, with Dortmund creating chances but crucially wasting them.
When that happens, as Liverpool and others have found before them in Champions League finals, there is normally only one outcome.
Match-winner Vinicius Jr was surrounded after the victory
And so it proved as Real, with keeper Courtois fully justifying Ancelotti’s decision to pick him ahead of Andriy Lunin, picked up a head of steam to strike those two late blows to the heart of brave Borussia.Many will wonder quite how Real Madrid do it when they seem out of sorts so often. But muscle memory kicks in with these great players, as the departing Toni Kroos, Carvajal, Nacho and late substitute Luka Modric claimed Champions League winners’ medals for the sixth time.As for the peerless Ancelotti, as impassive as ever, he continued his incredible record at the helm of this great club.It was a quiet night for Bellingam, who missed a big chance before setting up Vinicius Jr for the second. But what a campaign he has had since joining Real from Dortmund.England will hope this sets up their young superstar perfectly for Euro 2024.
Dortmund pay price for missed chances
Jadon Sancho couldn’t inspire Dortmund to victory
Borussia Dortmund went into this Champions League final as heavy underdogs but played well enough, and created enough opportunities, to make a mockery of that tag in a superb first 45 minutes.
Adeyemi faltered as he raced clear in the early stages, choosing to go around Courtois but ending up too wide, wasting the opening. Courtois then saved well from Adeyemi before Fullkrug’s low shot rolled agonisingly against the inside of the post.
Courtois saved well from Fullkrug’s header after the break, but the longer the game went on there was a sense that Dortmund would pay the ultimate price for not taking their chances, with Real experts at making their own opportunities count.
Dortmund were backed magnificently by their noisy and colourful fans, who gave their gallant team a rousing ovation after the final whistle, a reward for all their efforts.
But it was all to no avail as they lost their second Champions League final at Wembley after missing out against Bayern Munich in 2013.
When coach Edin Terzic reflects on this year’s events at Wembley, he will do so with a sense of what might have been.
Story by BBC
