Real Madrid defy Dortmund to win 15th Champions League
2nd June 2024
Madrid have now won their last nine European Cup finals and won the competition six times in the last 11 seasons.
- Carvajal headed in from Toni Kroos' corner on 74 minutes before Vinicius fired home to extend the Spanish giants' record as the most successful club in Champions League history.
- Madrid had to rely on some good fortune as underdogs Dortmund were left to bitterly regret not making the most of their first-half chances.
- Following the victory, Carvajal, Kroos, Nacho and Luka Modric joined Real legend Paco Gento as the only players to win the European Cup six times.
Real Madrid withstood a Borussia Dortmund barrage to win the
Champions League for the 15th time as Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior struck
late in a 2-0 win at Wembley on Saturday.
Right-back Carvajal headed in from Toni Kroos' corner on 74
minutes before Vinicius fired home 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.
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Niclas Fuellkrug hit the post and Karim Adeyemi failed to
convert a one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois.
Madrid, though, always seem to find a way in Europe's elite
competition and made more history in London.
"They left us alive with the game level and in the
second half we started to play better," said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.
"This squad leaves me very satisfied because we don't
always play our best but we never give up."
Carvajal, Kroos, Nacho and Luka Modric joined Real legend
Paco Gento as the only players to win the European Cup six times.
Ancelotti also extended his record as the most successful
coach in the competition's history with his fifth title.
A record number of more than 2,500 stewards were in place at
Wembley with the authorities keen to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes that
marred the Euro 2020 final three years ago when ticketless fans stormed the
turnstiles.
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But further questions over the security operation will be
raised as three pitch invaders were able to enter the field in the opening
minutes of the game, with one taking photos alongside Jude Bellingham and
Vinicius.
The Metropolitan Police said there had been 53 arrests,
including five for pitch invasions.
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.
The 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.
Dortmund's best chances fell to Adeyemi as Carvajal could
not deal with 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
his shot was blocked by Carvajal.
Fuellkrug's barrel-chested physique has made him a fan
favourite in his first season at Dortmund.
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playoffs
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 frame to turn in the rebound.
"We didn’t show the efficiency to score," said
Dortmund boss Edin Terzic.
"We were close to taking the lead but then there was a
momentum shift where the game turned around and you see why they are the
champions of this competition."
Ancelotti, Nacho and Modric were keen to stress on the eve
of the match that Madrid's habit of finding a way to get over the line in the
Champions League was no coincidence.
Having ridden their luck once more in the first half, the
Spanish champions found their feet in the second period.
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Gregor Kobel was finally forced into a save on 48 minutes
from Kroos, who came close to marking the final game of his club career with a
spectacular free-kick.
Bellingham was 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).
The England international 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.
Madrid landed the decisive blow 16 minutes from time when
Carvajal rose highest to head in Kroos' corner.
Kobel then briefly kept his side alive with fine saves from
Eduardo Camavinga and Nacho, while Bellingham's goalbound effort was deflected
behind by Nico Schlotterbeck.
But Bellingham did have a moment to savour on his homecoming as his pass teed up Vinicius to kill off Dortmund despite Kobel getting a hand to the Brazilian's powerful shot.