Real Madrid win their 14th Champions League!

Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 to lift their 14th Champions League title. Despite a troubled start to the final, the players took to the field half an hour later and gave a footballing recital at the Stade de France. 'Los Blancos' have put the icing on the cake to a very good season after winning La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup and now the Champions League.

Liverpool started dominating, even Mane managed to hit the post after a great save by Courtois. The Reds continued to dominate, but Madrid were comfortable and well organised in defence. However, just before half-time came the controversy of the final. Benzema scored after a Fabinho rebound was disallowed by the French referee.

It was in the 60th minute when a great move by Ancelotti's men ended in a goal. A great cross from Fede Valverde that no Liverpool defender could clear ended up in the boots of Vinicius for his fourth goal in the Champions League. This goal would be the only one we would see in this great final in Paris. Liverpool continued to press but failed to equalise, and Madrid could even have scored a second.

Undoubtedly, the clear protagonists of the final and of the whole season have been Benzema and Courtois. The Frenchman has had a great season and is a clear candidate to win the Ballon d'Or. Courtois has saved Madrid on numerous occasions and has managed to stop Liverpool. And behind them a great team with important players like Vinicius and Rodrygo who have appeared at the most important moments.

Great credit to Carlo Ancelotti, who has managed the season to perfection and has brought the whole squad together. Other key players have been Valverde, Camavinga, Nacho... and Marcelo! He becomes Real Madrid's player with the most titles and will bid farewell to the team in style.

 

May 28, 2022

The King of Europe for the last decade

Real Madrid managed to start a glorious decade precisely under Ancelotti, in 2014 when they won the 10th. They were trailing when Sergio Ramos in the 93rd minute equalised the game to go to extra time and win that season. Only Barca in 2015 stood in the way of what was to follow, something unheard of in the history of football.

With Zinedine Zidane on the bench, they managed to win three Champions League titles in a row, in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The last one against Liverpool in Kiev after Gareth Bale's brace and Benzema's goal after Loris Karius' mistake, and with Salah's controversial injury after Ramos' foul. 

As fate would have it, this year they met again in the final and once again it was Madrid who came out on top. A more than deserved achievement after the great season they have had in the Champions League, with comebacks at the Bernabeu against PSG, Chelsea and Man City. A perfect season for Madrid that has culminated with the 14th Champions League.

 

May 28, 2022