the fifteenth star for Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund

3 mins

The queen of European competitions delivered her epilogue in London, a year after Manchester City’s first coronation, in Istanbul, which occurred after a close fight against another unexpected finalist, Inter Milan.

The most successful club in history with fourteen stars, including five won over the last ten years, Real Madrid ascended to the throne at the end of a flamboyant season, with only two defeats in 54 matches. To reach London, the Madrilenians eliminated Manchester City in the quarter-final and Bayern Munich in the last four. All that was missing was one last step against the very talented Borussia, who defeated Antoine Griezmann’s Atlético Madrid and Kylian Mbappé’s PSG.

Heat on Real

But it was complicated for the Madrid defense in the face of the determination of the Germans. In the first half, the Yellow and Black gave the White House a cold sweat. In the 21st minute, after a magical pass from Hummels, Karim Adeyemi grabbed the ball in the middle and challenged Thibaut Courtois. Two minutes later, Adeyemi saw his shot blocked by Valverde, Dortmund insisted and Füllkrug found the right post. Then, Adeyemi insists again by shooting from the left but Courtois sends the ball back towards Füllkrug who is too advanced to target his header (28th). Courtois once again saves his team by relaxing to repel a low shot from Marcel Sabitzer (41st). At the break, Real are still alive, Dortmund can bite their fingers after all the missed opportunities.

Returning from the locker room, Real came out of its lethargy a little with a magnificent free kick taken by Toni Kroos who was playing in his sixth Champions League final. The BVB goalkeeper must rise into the air to deflect the ball for a corner (49th). Then, Carlo Ancelotti’s men return to their nap without offering anything.

And with a diving header to the right in the Madrid area, Füllkrug takes advantage of the good cross at the far post offered by Adeyemi on the left to try to open the score. Thibaut Courtois, – returning from an almost blank season -, the only one to remain awake in the Spanish camp, is there again to keep the score goalless (63rd).

But Real Madrid would not be Real Madrid without this clinical spirit which can turn a match around with a single gesture. From a corner, Toni Kroos curls his cross from the right, Dani Carvajal rises at the near post between Füllkrug and Ryerson to put the ball into Gregor Kobel’s net (74th). Real, who played with Borussia’s nerves in the final minutes, hit the mark again with the goal of the Brazilian Vinicius Junior with a cross strike for his sixth achievement in C1 this season (83rd). Yes, realistic Real Madrid, seriously manhandled by its opponent, never dies. Borussia, for its part, failed to offer itself a second C1 after its 1997 coronation against Juventus Turin of Zinédine Zidane and Didier Deschamps.