In a mouthwatering UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium, Real Madrid emerged victorious, claiming a record-breaking 15th European Cup after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.
The final featured a formidable Real Madrid side, who had just regained their domestic supremacy, against a Dortmund team that had defied expectations by reaching the final, topping a difficult group and eliminating Atletico Madrid and PSG along the way.
It was a Dortmund affair in the first half, with Julian Brandt firing wide and Karim Adeyemi testing Thibaut Courtois in the Real Madrid goal. Courtois showed his shot-stopping prowess by keeping out the shot in the 28th minute.
Shortly after Dortmund’s Niklas Fullkrug hit the post, and then the Belgian keeper, Courtois ensured his side would go into halftime without conceding when he saved a Marcel Sabitzer shot in the 41st minute.
In the second half, the Spanish giants gradually grew into the game, and their breakthrough came in the 74th minute when Dani Carvajal headed home a superb cross from Toni Kroos.
Despite Dortmund’s continuous efforts to equalise, it was Real Madrid who landed the decisive blow in the closing stages. Jude Bellingham’s pass found Vinicius Junior, whose shot managed to find the back of the net, sealing the victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
The triumph marked Ancelotti’s fifth Champions League title as a manager, a new record. For Real Madrid, it was a remarkable achievement, with the club now boasting a staggering 15 UCL trophies in their cabin, and players Toni Kroos, Carvajal, Luka Modric, and Nacho joining club legend Paco Gento on six Champions League wins as players.
Despite the heartbreak, Borussia Dortmund can be proud of their impressive campaign, which saw them overcome the ‘Group of Death’ and come agonisingly close to pulling off a stunning upset in the final.
The Dortmund team, with the likes of Jadon Sancho and Karim Adeyemi showcased their talent and determination, but ultimately fell short against the experience and resilience of the Spanish champions.
This triumph adds to Real Madrid’s unequalled European pedigree, solidifying their status as the undisputed kings of the continent.
For Dortmund, the loss will sting, but they can take solace in the knowledge that they pushed the mighty Real Madrid to the brink in a thrilling final at Wembley Stadium.
