Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday May 28 against Liverpool (1-0). A single goal signed by the Brazilian Vinicius in the second half gave victory to the Merengues. The Madrid club improves its record of victories in C1 with this 14th coronation.
Between Real Madrid and the Champions League, the magic always works. In this 67th edition of the C1, the people of Madrid have fought dantesque battles to successively eliminate PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City. In the final, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Liverpool FC stood in the way of Carlo Ancelotti’s men. One hell of a customer.
But this time, Real did not need to sign a hell of a comeback to win. A reinforced concrete defense and surgical efficiency allowed the Spaniards to emerge victorious (1-0) and bring the Cup to the big ears in Spain, four years after their last victory.
A Belgian wall in the Madrid cage
This final took a long time to start. Incidents outside the Stade de France prompted UEFA to delay kick-off by 36 minutes. During the first act, the Liverpool players were the most daring in the offensive field and slightly dominated the proceedings.
Only here, in front, there was Thibaut Courtois. The keeper pulled out high class parries facing Mohammad Salah (15th) then against Sadio Mané (21st). The Belgian deflected the shot from the Senegalese on the post.
Just before the break, when Real had yet to show anything in attack, Karim Benzema thought he had scored the perfect shot by opening the scoring (43rd). But the assistant referee signaled the Frenchman in an offside position, and the main whistle video assistants Clément Turpin upheld the decision.
Vinicius and Courtois deliver Madrid
After the break, the debates in the midfield were balanced, Liverpool lost their fluidity and Real ended up making the difference… with their only shot on target in the whole game. Forgotten at the far post, Vinicius Junior threw himself on a center shot from Federico Valverde and left no chance for Alisson Becker, the doorman of the English club (59th).
Led, the Reds therefore had no choice and threw all their strength to come back to score. Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool coach, launched Diogo Jota into the battle, then Naby Keïta and Roberto Firmino. But nothing worked. Despite a number of attempts, there was sometimes Militao, and very often a Courtois in a state of grace to thwart everything. The defenders of Real have congratulated their goalkeeper several times as he has been decisive.
Real Madrid, a monster of solidity and efficiency, therefore won its eighth consecutive Champions League final. His last defeat dates back to 1981 and a lost match in Paris against… Liverpool. This old bad memory is well and truly exorcised. Once again, the Merengue reign over Europe with 14 crowns in C1, twice as much as AC Milan.