Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory against Dortmund secured a record 15th Champions League title for Spanish side
A 2-0 victory against the German side Borussia Dortmund on Saturday night saw the Spanish champions Real Madrid win their 15th Champions League trophy at Wembley in London.
Real Madrid withstood a Borussia Dortmund barrage to win the Champions League as Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior struck late to hand a win to Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Right-back Carvajal headed in from Toni Kroos’ corner on 74 minutes before Vinicius fired into the far corner to extend the Spanish giants’ record as the most successful club in Champions League history.
Madrid have now won their last nine European Cup finals and won the competition six times in the last 11 seasons.
However, not for the first time in that run, they had to rely on some good fortune as underdogs Dortmund were left to bitterly regret not making the most of their first-half chances after Niclas Fuellkrug hit the post and Karim Adeyemi failed to convert a one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois.
Carvajal, Kroos, Nacho and Luka Modric joined Real legend Paco Gento as the only players to win the European Cup six times.
Carlo Ancelotti also extended his record as the most successful coach in the competition’s history with his fifth title.
Ancelotti said pre-match he felt “like a lion” after an afternoon siesta, but his side were caught napping for the first 45 minutes as roared on by the travelling thousands from Germany; Dortmund dominated.
Wasted Dortmund chances
Ancelotti’s decision to recall Courtois for his first Champions League appearance of the season after a serious knee injury paid dividends as the Belgian kept his side in the game.
The best chances fell to Adeyemi as Carvajal could not contain the German international’s pace.
A brilliant pass by Mats Hummels put Adeyemi clean through, but he took a heavy touch under pressure from Courtois and ran too wide before Carvajal blocked his shot.
Fuellkrug’s barrel-chested physique has made him a fan favourite in his first season at Dortmund.
The German international striker came closest to breaking the deadlock before half-time when his effort from Ian Maatsen’s through ball came back off the inside of the post.
Adeyemi was then denied once more by Courtois from a narrow-angle, and Fuellkrug could not twist his hulking frame to turn in the rebound.
Meanwhile, Gregor Kobel was finally forced into a save in 48 minutes from Kroos, who came close to marking the final game of his club career with a spectacular free-kick.
Jude Bellingham moulded into a world star during three years at Dortmund before leaving for Madrid 12 months ago for more than 100 million euros ($108 million). was inches away from biting the hand that used to feed him as he just could not get a telling touch on Vinicius’ teasing cross.
