The UEFA Champions League’s final match was a clash between two titans of European football: Liverpool and Real Madrid. Both teams, famous for attacking, attractive football, battled it out in a fierce match in Kiev. At the finish of a dramatic game, Real won the match 3-1 and are still the kings of Europe.
First Half:
- Liverpool started the match with their usual, high energy geggenpress and forced Real back. Their intent lead to them fashioning good attacking opportunities but nothing clear cut.
- Real, on the other hand, started the game looking to slow down the tempo. The trio of Kroos, Modric and Casemiro tried to calmly build up attacks. They were moderately successful and managed to create one particularly decent chance which Ronaldo shot over the bar from an angle.
- Liverpool’s fullbacks offered particularly worrying attacking threat to Real’s defense. Their runs in behind were a thorn in the side of the Spanish side. One of such nicely worked moves lead to Trent Alexander-Arnold nearly opening the scoring but he was denied by a smart Navas save.
- Liverpool were dealt a damaging blow midway through the first half as Mohamed Salah was injured during a coming together with Sergio Ramos. The attacker came down heavily on his shoulder and was unable to continue. The distraught Egyptian was replaced by Adam Lallana.
- Salah’s coming off acted as a boost for the Spanish side who immediately upped the tempo and looked to take the game to Liverpool. Real started to dominate the possession and started to pace the game to their liking.
- However, Madrid’s upped momentum received a temporary and damaging stop after Carvajal went down injured. The fullback left the field in tears, like Salah, and was replaced by Nacho.
- Real finished the half strongly and kept the ball extremely well against a suddenly slightly panicked Liverpool side. They created chances as well, the best of which fell to Benzema. The Frenchmen had a goal disallowed for offside after Karius saved superbly from Cristiano Ronaldo after a cross into the box.
Second Half:
- Real continued their positive form into the second half and almost grabbed the lead immediately. After an error by the Liverpool defense, the ball fell kindly to Isco who could only hit the ball against the crossbar from a promising position.
- Calamity struck for Liverpool soon after that after Karius gifted a goal to Benzema. After calmly collecting the ball, Karius impetuously gave the ball away to the alert striker who slotted home, much to the despair of the shocked English side and their fans.
- Liverpool didn’t let their heads drop and immediately equalized after a Lovren header from Milner’s corner was turned in by Mane at the back post.
- The game opened up after Mane’s goal and both teams threatened to take the lead. Real also made a substitution with Bale coming on for Isco.
- Bale had an instant impact as well and scored one of the greatest goals in the history of all UEFA Champions League finals. After making a beautiful run into the box, the Welsh wizard produced something magical. The Welshman powered in a Marcelo cross with a spectacular bicycle kick to restore Real’s lead.
- Liverpool were shell shocked for a few moments before they started to come back into the game. They responded admirably and Mane’s snapshot hit the base of the post after a good counter attack. The chasing side also had a weak penalty shout turned down.
- Real could have killed the game with Ronaldo being put through on goal. However, Andy Robertson put in a brilliant tackle to deny the Portuguese and keep his side in the game.
- Bale also produced another exquisite piece of attacking play. The man of the moment produced a terrific outside of the foot pass to set up Karim Benzema in front of goal. Karius saved well from the resulting shot but Real were banging on the door and would soon be rewarded.
- Bale had his say again and scored the crucial third goal after Karius had another horror moment in goal. Bale struck a whizzing shot from range which Karius should have dealt with confidently, but, instead he split it into the back of the net.
- The match petered out after that with neither side getting close to another goal. In the end, Real Madrid retained their title for the second successive time and have now won three European titles on the bounce.
