Real Madrid find a new hero to deny Dortmund and clinch familiar Champions League glory
Even the way they won it went by the familiar script. The same old story, if with a few new elements thatReal Madridcan crow about. The club’s 15thChampions Leagueis the first they have won at Wembley.
So, the European Cup finally goes from the home of football to the home of this competition - even though they’ve tried to destroy it with a Super League. That was all thanks to Carlo Ancelotti winning a fifth as a manager and another club stalwart becoming a club legend.
In scoring just the 13th goal of his Real Madrid career after 11 seasons,Dani Carvajalsent the club on the way toa 2-0 victoryagainst a spirited but limitedBorussia Dortmund. He adds his name to a legacy that includes Alfredo Di Stefano, Paco Gento, Ferenc Puskas, Predrag Mijatovic, Raul, Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo,Vinicius Jr… and if that by this point reads like the mere relaying of a list, that was almost the point.
Madrid barely had to go through the motions to win. Vinicius Jr even got his customary breakaway goal. Jude Bellingham gets his first Champions League medal to make it a double in his first season, even if this was not his finest game. It didn’t need to be.
It was all so inevitable.
Real Madrid find a new hero to produce familiar Champions League story
Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Real Madrid: Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr delivered a 15th European title for Los Blancos
Chris Wilson1 June 2024 22:32
Police make dozens of arrests at Wembley
A Met Police spokesperson said: “We are confident that the overwhelming majority of attempts to unlawfully gain access to Wembley this evening were unsuccessful thanks to the efforts of officers, stewards and other stadium staff.
“Officers have made 53 arrests at Wembley tonight – five for pitch invasion and the majority of others for attempts to breach security.
“Major sporting events often attract attempts by those without tickets to bypass perimeter fencing or otherwise gain entry. There is a robust policing operation in place to support the Wembley security plan and officers have worked closely with stewards and stadium staff to maintain security throughout.”
Lawrence Ostlere2 June 2024 04:35
Police make dozens of arrests at Wembley
Police made 53 arrests at the Champions League final at Wembley in London as officers helped security stop football fans trying to force their way into the stadium before kick-off.
Five arrests were also made after people got onto the playing surface.
Real Madrid won the game 2-0, with more than 60,000 watching the game inside the stadium - however, more attempted to get in illegally.
Lawrence Ostlere2 June 2024 04:10
Bellingham joins elite group of English stars abroad
Gareth Bale
Britain’s most decorated export won the competition five times during his career at Real Madrid.
In 2014, after Sergio Ramos had levelled in stoppage time following Diego Godin’s first-half opener for city rivals Atletico, Bale put Real in front with a 110th-minute header before further strikes from Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo sealed ‘La Decima’.
Two years later, the Madrid teams faced off once again and needed penalties to be separated following a 1-1 draw. Bale netted the third spot-kick as Real won the shoot-out.
He won his third Champions League title with a 4-1 success over Juventus in his hometown of Cardiff the following year.
A third successive triumph followed in 2018, when his stunning overhead kick put Los Blancos 2-1 up against Liverpool shortly after coming on as a substitute before his long-range effort clinched a 3-1 win in Kyiv.
The Welshman was an unused substitute in the 2022 final when Real beat Liverpool 1-0 in Paris.
Lawrence Ostlere2 June 2024 03:20
Bellingham joins elite group of English stars abroad
Steve McManaman
Steve McManaman was the first Englishman to feature in a Champions League final for a foreign club in 2000 and he scored during the 3-0 success against LaLiga rivals Valencia.
Fernando Morientes headed Los Blancos into a half-time lead at the Stade de France before McManaman doubled the advantage in brilliant fashion.
A long throw into the penalty area from Roberto Carlos was half-cleared to the former Liverpool man, who produced a wonderful first-time volley into the bottom corner from 18 yards. Raul wrapped up victory late on.
McManaman bagged his second European title with Real two years later at Hampden Park, where he made a second-half substitute appearance.
Raul opened the scoring against Bayer Leverkusen in the eighth minute, but they were pegged back six minutes later by defender Lucio.
But on the stroke of half-time, Zidane produced a memorable volley from the edge of the area with his weaker left foot to seal a brilliant win.
Lawrence Ostlere2 June 2024 03:05
Bellingham joins elite group of English stars abroad
Owen Hargreaves
Owen Hargreaves played the full 120 minutes in Bayern’s midfield during the 2001 final against Valencia which was dominated by spot-kicks.
Gaizka Mendieta put Valencia ahead with his early penalty and Santiago Canizares saved Bayern midfielder Mehmet Scholl’s spot-kick later in the first half.
A third penalty was awarded in the 50th minute, which Stefan Effenberg converted to level, and the match finished 1-1 after extra time.
Paulo Sergio fired over with Bayern’s first attempt in the shoot-out before Oliver Kahn saved Zlatko Zahovic’s effort, while Patrik Andersson and Amedeo Carboni traded misses.
Thomas Linke slotted home Bayern’s seventh penalty, which proved to be the winner as Kahn kept out Mauricio Pellegrino to seal a 5-4 success.
Lawrence Ostlere2 June 2024 02:40
Bellingham joins elite group of English stars abroad
Paul Lambert
Scotland’s Paul Lambert starred for Borussia Dortmund in the 1997 final when he kept Juventus’ Zinedine Zidane quiet throughout the contest in Munich.
Karl-Heinz Riedle’s quickfire first-half double - the first was assisted by Lambert - put Dortmund in control.
Juve hit back through Alessandro Del Piero’s smart finish before academy graduate Lars Ricken delightfully lobbed Angelo Peruzzi from 25 yards with his first touch, just 16 seconds after coming on, to seal a stunning 3-1 victory.
It is Dortmund’s only Champions League success to date.
Lawrence Ostlere2 June 2024 02:33
Bellingham joins elite group of English stars abroad
Jude Bellingham has joined an elite group of British male players to have won the Champions League with a foreign club after Real Madrid’s success at Wembley.
Bellingham was reunited with former club Borussia Dortmund, who he left last summer for Los Blancos, as Real won 2-0.
Here are the four men who had achieved this feat before Saturday night...
Lawrence Ostlere2 June 2024 02:15
Bellingham’s role will change when Mbappe arrives, says Mourinho
Real are expected to strengthen considerably with the anticipated imminent arrival of Paris St Germain’s France striker Kylian Mbappe.
Mourinho believes that will impact on Jude Bellingham’s ability to get forward as much as he has this season but will also make Real even more formidable.
“Bellingham will score less goals. The system is going to change, the position of Bellingham is going to change,” he added.
“They will play Rodrygo, Mbappe and Vinicius. For me he (Ancelotti) will play with two midfield players and Bellingham behind the three attackers.
“With these guys, Rodrygo, Mbappe and Vinicius - to play against them is hard.”
Lawrence Ostlere2 June 2024 01:25
Mourinho on Ancelotti: ‘He is a proper coach'
Former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho praised Carlo Ancelotti for his adaptability as the club won their 15th Champions League title.
Second-best for most of the final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior clinched victory.
“When they played against Manchester City (in the semi-final) they thought to beat them they had to change the philosophy,” Mourinho told TNT Sports.
“Ask Real Madrid fans if they were unhappy to see them change the philosophy against City. Ask Real Madrid fans if they were unhappy with the philosophy in the first half.
“He is not a social media coach, he is a proper coach. He comes from the meritocracy.
“Don’t get me wrong, Edin (Terzic, Dortmund coach) did a great job. Football is not about ifs but if they score a goal in the first half I am pretty sure they win.
“I feel sorry for them because they are a very good team.”
Lawrence Ostlere2 June 2024 01:02
