Resillient Real Madrid overcame Borussia Dortmund in the second half to win their record-extending 15th UEFA Champions League title at Wembley Stadium, London on June 1. Toni Kroos retired as six-time Champions League winner as Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr scored one goal each in Los Blancos 2-0 win over the German side.
Dortmund troubled Real Madrid in the first half with relentless attacks but could not find the back of the net. Carlo Ancelotti's men were able to turn the tables in the second half. Carvajal in the 74th minute broke the deadlock. He met a Kroos' corner at the near post and headed it past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Nine minutes later, Vinicus Jr. ruled out the possibility of Dortmund’s comeback with another goal.
Dortmund rued missed opportunities in the first half. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois pulled off a few stunning saves whereas Niclas Fullkrug hit the post and missed a chance to get Dortmund a lead.
“It was a very difficult game, much more difficult than we had expected,” Ancelotti said. “We changed things because in the first half we were a bit lazy.”
Real Madrid completed a double this season. They were way ahead of Barcelona in La Liga in the points table as well.
“This is the love story between Real Madrid and the European Cup. Players come, players go, but we can say that this is our competition,” Madrid president Florentino Perez said.
Major feat for several Real Madrid players
Along with Kroos, Carvajal, Luka Modric and Nacho won the trophy for the sixth time as well. They equalled the feat achieved by legendary Spanish footballer Paco Gento who was also known as the "Gale of the Cantabrian Sea".
Another loss in Wembley
This was the second time Borussia Dortmund lost in the final. In 2013, they were beaten by Bayern Munich in 2013 at the same venue. Their last Champions League title win came in 1997. They beat Juventus 3-1 in the final.
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