Real Madrid down Liverpool to lift 14th Champions League title

Real Madrid were crowned the kings of Europe on Saturday night in Paris as they beat Liverpool 1-0 at the Stade de France to lift a record-extending 14th Champions League title. Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior scored the game’s only goal in the second half, while Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced a performance for the ages to help Los Blancos seal the victory and win their fifth Champions League title in the last nine seasons.

After a delayed start caused by chaos outside the stadium that saw the English supporters being pepper-sprayed and tear-gassed by the French police, it was Liverpool who took control of the game early on. The Reds enjoyed most of the possession in the opening exchanges and tested the Real Madrid goal with regularity as Thibaut Courtois made plenty of pivotal saves to deny the Liverpool forwards.

Mohamed Salah had the first real chance of the game as he redirected Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross goalwards, only for Courtois to make an excellent save diving to his left. The Belgian keeper followed that up with an even better stop against Sadio Mane, tipping the Senegalese’s venomous shot onto the post in the 20th minute.

However, despite all their chances, it was Madrid who went closest to scoring in the first half. Against the run of play, David Alaba released Karim Benzema through on goal, who slotted the ball past Alisson after a goal-mouth scramble, only for the strike to be ruled offside following a lengthy VAR interruption.

After managing just one shot on target in the opening period – their lowest in any game in the first half this season – Madrid were much improved after the break and eventually broke the deadlock on the hour mark through Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian winger snuck past Trent Alexander-Arnold at the back post and tapped in Federico Valverde’s cross into an empty net, becoming the youngest goal-scorer in a Champions League final since Lionel Messi in 2009. 

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were happy to sit back and protect their lead in the last 30 minutes after Vinicius’ strike, and Liverpool continued to knock on the door as Jurgen Klopp threw on the likes of Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota. Mohamed Salah went close on two occasions, but once again, Courtois was equal to the Egyptian, tipping his curled strike beyond the far post before making another world-class save from close distance in the final ten minutes.

Despite managing 24 shots to Madrid’s four, Liverpool were unable to fashion a breakthrough as Madrid pulled through to win their 14th European title, twice as many as the next best side in the history of the competition.