David and Goliath, aka Dortmund and Real Madrid, met last night in the Champions League final at the temple of football, Wembley Stadium, in front of over 86,250 spectators.
Carlo Ancelotti brought Real to their 15th Champions League trophy. Photo EPA EFE
Heavy favorites for the match, Carlo Ancelotti's men had a disastrous first half performance, caught by the speed, organization and ambition of the Germans, who missed chance after chance.
The joy of Real after another victory in the Champions League. Capture TV
Stormed by Dortmund, the goal of the Spanish champions escaped unpunished thanks to Thibaut Courtois, inspired in several situations. And when the Belgian, starting in front of the hero of the previous phase, the Ukrainian Lunin, was defeated, the bar saved the Madrid players, with Niclas Fuellkrug's shot (23).
The Germans, broken down after defeat. Capture TV
The locker room ended with 0-0, after a nightmare half for the Madrid players, who did not shoot even once in the German goal area, against 3 square balls of the opponents. Well reprimanded at half-time by Carlo Ancelotti, stars Vinicius, Kroos and Rodrygo showed a different side in the second half, even if the Germans were still dangerous.
Another face after the break
And, as has happened countless times, Real Madrid struck with a quarter of an hour before the end of the 90th minute through Carvajal, who was on his way to his first goal of the Champions League season. Indeed, at a time when the Spaniards had balanced the game, they even had two great opportunities, through Kroos and Bellingham. After opening the scoring, only the Spaniards remained on the field, but one after the other, Kroos, Bellingham and Nacho made incredible misses for Vinicius to score the 82nd-minute winner after a serious German defensive error.
Toni Kroos, at the last match for Real Madrid. Capture TV
Don Carlo then gave Toni Kroos a gala exit from the football stage, with the German midfielder making his last appearance at club level, set to retire after Euro 2024. What followed was general joy from the Iberians and Carlo Ancelotti's winning gestures , on his 5th personal Champions League, a record in world football.
Borussia Dortmund – Real Madrid 0-2
They scored: Carvajal (75), Vinicius jr (82)
Borussia: Kobel – Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen – Emre Can (Malen, 80), Sabitzer – Jadon Sancho (Bynoe-Gittens, 87), Brandt (Haller, 80), Adeyemi (Reus, 72) – Fullkrug. Trainer: Edin Terzic.
Real madrid: Courtois – Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy – Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos (Modric, 85) – Bellingham (Joselu, 85) – Rodrygo (Militao, 90), Vinicius Jr (Lucas Vazquez, 90+4). Coach: Carlo Ancelotti.
