Real Madrid became European champions for the 15th time at Wembley, with second-half goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr overcoming a courageous Borussia Dortmund for a 2-0 Champions League final victory.
The German side attacked the posts and created two more clear-cut chances in the first half as they threatened a major upset but Real have a unique relationship with this competition and, with a better display after the interval, they finally came alive.
Toni Kroos – in his last game for the club – set up the opener with a corner for Carvajal to head home with 16 minutes to play, before England’s Jude Bellingham teed up Vinicius Jr to punish Dortmund’s long range.
Niclas Fullkrug, who had struck deep into the game as Dortmund broke through Real’s back line at will, thought he would have produced a great finish with a powerful header but was flagged for offside and Dortmund’s hopes of a comeback. but it ends there.
In fact, European kings, crowned again. At Decimoquinta guaranteed.
For the first time, this is with an unbeaten European campaign. They needed four comebacks on the road, including a last-gasp win over Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and a penalty shoot-out victory over last season’s champions Manchester City in the quarter-finals, but the Spanish champions were not to be denied.
For Carvajal, Kroos and teammates Nacho and Luka Modric, it was their sixth Champions League win with Real Madrid. Boss Carlo Ancelotti has now won the coveted prize for the fifth time as head coach. For the 20-year-old Bellingham, the first to come?
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Real Madrid fans celebrate their Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund at a viewing party at the Bernabeu.
Bellingham: Best night of my life!
Jude Bellingham spoke to TNT Sports:
“I’ve always dreamed of playing in this game. You will live with people who tell you that you can’t do things. Days like this remind you. Sometimes it’s hard and you wonder if it’s worth it but nights like this make you realize.
“I’m fine until I see my mom and dad. The night is like where he can be home at 7 o’clock but he goes out until 12 o’clock to travel to take me to football. And my sister is the one I try to be a role model for the night the most good in my life.”
How Real became champions again
The odds are always stacked against Dortmund. They had beaten them against Atletico Madrid and Paris St-Germain en route to the final, but a missed moment in the first half came back to cost them. That opportunity may have been on his mind as he stood in front of supporters who had been cheering him on loudly.
In the end, Wembley was hurt again, just like when they lost the 2013 final to Bayern Munich. For the departure of Marco Reus, who was there 11 years ago, it must have been very painful.
A series of forwards may have disrupted the start of the match, but Dortmund quickly stepped up, taking a pass behind the Real backline for Julian Brandt to curl beyond the far post and Karim Adeyemi ran the ball wide of Thibaut Courtois.
Real couldn’t close the gap and Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen, who celebrated winning the Championship with Burnley last year, turned at Fullkrug to fire inside the post midway through the half.
The big striker went close again, this time unable to clear the header from Adeyemi’s shot. The left winger proved too hot to handle. Jadon Sancho on the other hand is also enjoying success. Even Marcel Sabitzer was able to get forward from midfield and force Courtoi into a save as Dortmund finished the half on top.
Map comparison for the Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s best moment in the first 45 was a speculative effort from the corner of the box by Vinicius Jr. He eventually made Gregor Kobel work through Kroos’ free-kick from an angle before Carvajal went close from the next corner. The right-back’s eye then flashed again as a shot at the back post was well deflected for the keeper.
Real were finally getting into gear. Courtois should have cleared Fullkrug’s header but the action was now on Dortmund’s left. Bellingham was inches away from flicking on Vinicius Jr’s lofted cross, with Brazil laughing at itself after some trickery won Real wide. It was the set-piece that brought the breakthrough and Carvajal’s second Champions League goal nine years from the start. A good time to add to the tally.
Vinicius Junior doubled Real Madrid’s lead at Wembley
Bellingham again went close with a shot from inside the box as Real suddenly surged in confidence. Kobel had to save from Kroos then Eduardo Camavinga and then Nacho. He couldn’t stop Vinicius Jr’s attack – finishing clinically to close after Bellingham capitalized on Maatsen’s mistake to find him in space.
Fullkrug thought he had caught his side, but there was no stopping Real’s procession to the throne again.
Terzic: The quality of Real Madrid is incredible
Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic: “Momentum turns and you see why they are champions.
“It was a very good game in the first 15-20 minutes of the second half. But the quality of the opponent was incredible. to learn from.
“We were always dangerous when we had the ball, on the counterattack, but we couldn’t score and that was the key to why we didn’t win the game.”
About Jadon Sancho’s future: “The last six months, Jadon has been very good for us. It will take some time to get back to form but we can feel his quality and skill will improve our game immediately. He not only improves the game but the players around him. He is a talent.
“We’ve talked about it now. The Champions League final in his hometown. I’m very happy he’s with us. You can feel the joy he receives in the dressing room and brings to the dressing room.
“I am very happy to work with Jadon. We don’t know what he will do in the future, but for sure we will bring the Champions League final again.”
Carlo Ancelotti follows…
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