The UEFA Real Madrid League has come to a close with Real Madrid claiming the trophy for the 15th time. This is the club’s 6th Champions League trophy in the last 10 years. The Spanish giants have gotten to the finals 18 times and won it 15 of those times, losing to Benfica, Inter Milan, and Liverpool in the 1961–62, 1963–64, and 1980–81 seasons respectively.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid has won the trophy three times, with the Italian manager winning the trophy twice each with AC Milan as a player and a coach. He’s the most decorated manager in Champions League history, with Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Dani Carvajal, and Nacho, the most decorated players with six titles. Jude Bellingham has won his 1st Champions League trophy in his 1st season with Madrid.
Dortmund Takes The Game To Real Madrid
The Real Madrid attack remained unchanged from the fast-paced, Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and Bellingham attack that had terrorized both the Spanish La Liga and the Champions League this season. In the 12th minute, sleek passing on the right side of the Madrid attack opened space for Federico Valverde to shoot. His shot went wide.
Two minutes later, Nico Schlotterberk saw Niclas Fullkrug’s movements behind the Madrid back line and sent a long pass to the Dortmund striker. Out of position, the striker passed the ball back to Julian Brandt who was arriving at the edge of the box. The attacker fired wide of Thibaut Courtois‘ goal.
In the 21st minute, Dortmund launched another attack, this time with Matts Hummels sending a long ball over the Madrid defense to Karim Adeyemi. The Dortmund attacker tried to go around Courtois but the Madrid goalkeeper spread himself out so wide that the attacker had to dribble too far from goal to take a useful shot. Carvajal ended up making the save.
Three minutes later, Jadon Sancho dribbled towards the Madrid box from the right before passing down the line to Marcel Sabitzer who was making a late run into the box. The midfielder played a diagonal pass towards the 6-yard box to the unrushing Adeyemi but a combination of Valverde and Carvajal made the block.
Dortmund Keep The Pressure On Madrid
A few seconds later, Dortmund was on Madrid again. This time, Ian Maatsen pinched the ball off Camavinga near the center circle and bore down on goal. He sent a defense-splitting pass to Fullkrug who had managed to stay onside. Dortmund placed the ball beyond the outspread body of Courtois but struck the upright with his shot.
Five minutes later, Dortmund’s attackers came barreling forward again with Brandt carrying the ball. He played a sleek pass between Carvajal and Antonio Rudiger into the path of Adeyemi. The Dortmund attacker took an extra touch before taking the shot. Courtois comfortably saved it.
In the 41st minute, Marcel Sabitzer took a long-range shot at the Madrid goal which was saved by Courtois for a Dortmund corner. Three minutes after the players returned for the second half, Real Madrid got a free kick which was struck directly at goal by Toni Kroos. Gregor Kobel made an excellent save at the top right corner of his goal.
Real Madrid Get Back In The Game
In the 57th minute, Vinicius Jr. sent a cross to the Dortmund 6-yard box. Schlotterbeck and Rodrygo jumped for it, with the taller man, the Dortmund defender, getting to the ball first and hitting it away from the Madrid attacker. The ball dropped for Carvajal who struck it, but not as clean as he’d have hoped, at Kobel. Kobel saved easily.
In the 63rd minute, Adeyemi received a pass from Julian Brandt on the left side of the Dortmund attack. He took a touch before crossing it into the box, straight to the head of the onrushing Jadon Sancho. Sancho’s head went straight into the fists of Thibaut Courtois.
Five minutes later, the ball got to Vinicius Jr. at the same spot he’d gotten it before and he sent in a similar cross as the earlier one. This time, the cross was aimed at Jude Bellingham. Gregor Kobel came out to claim or punch the cross and missed it. Bellingham also missed it and it sailed narrowly wide of the right-hand post.
Also Read: Premier League Giants Target Jobe Bellingham for the 24/25 Season From Sunderland
Carvajal And Vinicius Goals Win 15th Trophy
In the 74th minute, the game changed. The retiring German legend, Toni Kroos, played in a cross into the crowded box. Carvajal lost his marker and jumped to meet the ball with his head, directing it beyond every yellow and white shirt into the bottom right corner of the Dortmund net to score Madrid’s lead.
Three minutes later, Real Madrid came at Dortmund again, a renewed confidence in them born by the goal they’d scored. Camavinga played a diagonal pass to Bellingham in the box. The English midfielder took one extra touch which was one-too-many, and played the shot. It got deflected out for a corner.
In the 80th minute, Toni Kroos, desperate to sign out of club football with a goal, took another free kick in a dangerous position. His well-taken shot beat to the Dortmund wall but Kobel was equal to it. A few seconds later, Kobel saved a well-taken shot from Camavinga.
After Kobel saved a header on goal from a corner a minute later, Dortmund managed to get the ball out of the box. Just then, playing out of the box, Maatsen played a misplaced pass to Bellingham who played in Vinicius Jr. who was in a lot of space. The Brazilian played a well-placed shot into the bottom right corner of the Dortmund net to put the game well beyond the reach of the German side.
About the Author
Ebenezer has been an avid writer for over a decade and a half. Within that period, he has garnered experience in various fields such as editing, graphics design, transcribing, sales, data analysis, and football management. He’s also the author of the mystery thriller novel “The Eye of Ra.” For more articles by Ebenezer Ugorji, click here and here!
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