The Game
A miracle? Real Madrid won the champions league the hard way
The two teams that competed in the finals were Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF.
Madrid was the defending champions, having won the title in 2017.
The first half
It was a night of highs and lows for Real Madrid as they narrowly won the Champions League final against Liverpool. The first half was a disaster for Los Blancos, as they found themselves three goals down at half-time. But, in a stunning turnaround, they managed to score three goals in the second half and win the game 3-1.
Here’s a look at how the first half unfolded:
Real Madrid started poorly and was soon behind, as Karim Benzema’s attempted clearance deflected into his net off Dejan Lovren. It got worse for them when Sadio Mane scored twice in quick succession, firstly latching onto a through ball from Mohamed Salah and then capitalizing on an error by goalkeeper Keylor Navas. A miracle? Real Madrid won the champions league the hard way
At Half-time, it looked like Liverpool was going to run away with the game, but Real Madrid staged a remarkable comeback in the second half. Substitute Gareth Bale scored two goals – the first a spectacular overhead kick before he lashed home from close range after a mistake by goalkeeper Loris Karius. And then, in injury time, Bale scored again – this time from long range – to seal a stunning victory for Real Madrid.
The second half
Real Madrid took the lead in the 37th minute. Benzema scored from close range after a fine pass by Modric. The second half started with Liverpool pressing for an equalizer. Salah had a good chance but his shot was saved by Navas. In the 56th minute, Firmino scored from close range to make it 1-1. The match was now finely balanced and both teams had chances to score. In the end, Real Madrid held on to win 3-1 and become champions of Europe for the 13th time.
The players
Captaining the side, Sergio Ramos led by example with a series of crucial interventions, the most important of which was the last-gasp goal-line clearance that denied Liverpool victory in the dying seconds of added time. Luka Modric was, once again, the maestro in midfield, while in attack, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo – who became the first player ever to score in 10 consecutive Champions League games – were all on the scoresheet.
The starting lineup
In the final, Madrid was without several key players. Most notably, Gareth Bale, who had scored two goals in the semi-final against Barcelona, was out with an injury. Other absentees included center-back Pepe, left-back Fabio Coentrao, and striker Karim Benzema.
Despite these absences, Madrid put out a strong starting lineup. In goal was Iker Casillas, who has been with the club since 1990 and is its captain. the defense was Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, and Marcelo, with Dani Carvajal at right back. the midfield was Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and James Rodriguez, with Isco just behind them in a more attacking role. Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese Rodriguez started up front.
The substitutes
Real Madrid’s substitutes have been a big part of the team’s success in recent years. In the 2017-18 season, they contributed 22 goals and 12 assists in La Liga, more than any other team in the division.
This season, they have been just as important, chipping in with 16 goals and eight assists. Gareth Bale, who has started just four league games, has scored three goals and set up two more.
Isco, who has started only five league games, has two goals and three assists. Marco Asensio, who has started just six times in the league, has three goals and two assists. And Lucas Vazquez, who has started only seven times in the league, has four goals and one assist.
The coach
There are many reasons for Real Madrid’s victory in the champions league. One of the biggest reasons is the coach. The coach put the team in a position to win and they took advantage of it. The coach is a huge factor in any team’s success and Real Madrid is no different.
The tactics
It was a bit of all three. When the game ended and Madrid had pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in Champions League history, Zidane just stood there on the touchline, arms aloft, looking slightly dazed.
He had just witnessed his side score three goals in the space of seven minutes to come from behind and beat Liverpool 3-1 in the final, becoming the first team ever to retain the Champions League.
When he finally composed himself and gave his thoughts on an incredible night’s work, he spoke about how proud he was of his team and how they had never given up hope, even when they were trailing 1-0 with less than 10 minutes to go.
“It looked like it wasn’t going to be our night,” he admitted. “But we believe in ourselves and our quality. That’s what we showed on the pitch.”
He also spoke about how crucial it was for Madrid to score that all-important first goal, which came courtesy of a stunning overhead kick from substitute Gareth Bale.
“When you score an overhead kick like that, it gives you a lift,” he said. “It was a great goal and it got us back into the game.”
From there, it was all Madrid as they ran riot in the closing stages to secure victory. It was an extraordinary turnaround and one that will live long in the memory.
The halftime talk
Zidane’s words at halftime had an immediate impact. Casemiro scored within two minutes of the restart, latching onto Sergio Ramos’s pass and rifling a low shot past Alisson from 25 yards. It was the Brazilian’s first goal since March, and it gave Madrid a vital lead.
From there, Madrid was in control. They should have scored more goals, but they were content to sit back and defend their lead. And in the end, it was enough to see them through to the final.
It’s impossible to say for sure whether Zidane’s halftime talk was the reason for Madrid’s turnaround, but it certainly seemed to have an impact. Whether it was destiny, magic, or a miracle, Madrid found a way to win the Champions League against all the odds.
The fans
Madrid could’ve easily given up when they were 3-0 down at halftime. They could’ve easily lost faith when club captain Sergio Ramos was sent off in the 84th minute. But they didn’t. The fans never stopped believing. And in the end, their faith was rewarded.
The reaction
As the final whistle sounded, the Bernabeu erupted. The Madrid fans had seen their team spiritedly come back from 3-0 down to level the score at 3-3, and then win the tie on penalties. Sergio Ramos, the captain, led the team up to the second tier of the stadium to celebrate with the fans.
It was a moment of catharsis for a club that has had a season of transition, and for many of the fans, it was an emotional release after years of pent-up frustration. This was not just a victory for Real Madrid, but a victory for football.
This was a Champions League final, and they had just witnessed their team come back from what seemed like an impossible deficit. For them, this was more than just a game; this was a symbol of hope and belief.
The Madrid fans showed us all that it means to have faith. In the face of adversity, they never lost hope; they never stopped believing. And in the end, their faith was rewarded.
The celebration
The celebration was euphoric. The fans were ecstatic. It was a moment of pure joy.
Real Madrid had just won the Champions League, and they had done it the hard way. They had come back from a 3-1 deficit against Liverpool in the final, scoring three goals in the last seven minutes of the game to win 4-3.
It was a miraculous comeback, and the fans were celebrating like mad. They were chanting and singing, hugging and kissing each other. They were crying tears of joy.
It was a magical moment and one that the fans will never forget.
The aftermath
It was a close game. One that could have gone anyway. But in the end, Real Madrid was the better team and took home the trophy. Do they say that luck was on their side, but is that the case? Let’s take a look at how they won the Champions League.
The reaction of the players
The players were visibly emotional after the game, with some of them in tears. Sergio Ramos, who was named man of the match, said: “This has been the most difficult Champions League of my career. No one wanted to give up. It has been an amazing turnaround. We have suffered a lot but we are deserved winners.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored the decisive penalty in the shootout, added: “It was very intense but that’s what the Champions League is all about. We never lost faith, even when we were behind. We are a great team and we showed that again tonight.”
Karim Benzema, who scored Real Madrid’s first goal, said: “It was an incredible night. We played against a great team but we never gave up. We are very happy.”
Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid’s manager, said: “It was a great game and in the end, we deserved to win. I’m very proud of my players.”
The reaction of the coach
Zidane was emotional after the game, openly weeping on the sidelines as the significance of the moment sunk in. When asked about it after the game, he said, “It’s a very special night. I’m happy for the players, they deserve it. We’ve been through a lot this season and we’re just so happy to have won this trophy.”
The reaction of the fans
The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium erupted. Thousands of Madridistas swarmed onto the pitch to celebrate with their heroes. It was a moment of pure joy and relief, as the fans witnessed their team’s incredible turnaround in the space of just a few weeks.
Now, Madrid is the champion of Europe for the record 13th time. But they proved their doubters wrong in style, winning an enthralling final against city rivals Atletico Madrid.
The scenes at the end of the game were reminiscent of those after Madrid’s previous Champions League successes in 2014 and 2016. But this one felt even more special, given everything that the team and the fans have been through over the past few months. There will be plenty of celebrations in the Spanish capital tonight, that’s for sure!