Vinicius Junior scored the decisive goal as Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the Champions League final at the Stade de France in Paris to win a record-extending 14th title. The Brazilian forward stopped a cross from Fede Valverde from close range in the 59th minute to give Los Blancos the lead and Thibaut Courtois ensured that Jürgen Klopp’s side never found their way back, by making several Liverpool attempts on goal during the match. to deny.
It was a sad end to a fruitful season for Liverpool, where they ended up playing every game they could. They won the two domestic cups (League Cup and FA Cup) and finished in an embarrassing second place to Manchester City in the Premier League by a solitary point.
Liverpool had over 20 tries, 9 of them on goal, but couldn’t count them as Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois was extraordinary that night.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, won La Liga at a gallop and added another European crown to their cabinet. It was a season in which Real Madrid faced tough challenges in all knockout rounds of the Champions League. It started with a come from behind win over Paris St Germain in the round of 16, followed by a second leg last gasp, all things considered, against Chelsea in the quarter finals. The script remained unchanged and became even more dramatic as the Los Blancos scored two extremely late goals to beat Manchester City in the semi-finals to reach the top clash.
A story of missed opportunities for Liverpool
Liverpool started the game with their high pressure, which Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois almost got hold of in the third minute of the game, as the Belgian had to make a hasty clearance.
Madrid tried to combine fire with fire with Benzema and Vinicius Jr. However, Liverpool were the first to get into a rhythm as the trio of Jordan Henderson, Thiago and Fabinho started playing their passing game.
Liverpool kept sounding, making several forays into Madrid’s penalty area in the first 15 minutes, but failed to threaten Courtois’ goal.
Madrid, as expected, was in the doldrums and tried to break through the counter-attack, depending on the frantic pace of Vinicius and Benzema.
And it was the Reds who got the first goal in the 16e minute as Alexander Arnold’s square ball from the Madrid penalty area made its way past the defenders and reached Mohamed Salah, whose weak shot put Courtois to the test, who ducked to the left to make an important save.
This was followed by two back-to-back shots on goal from Thiago and Salah, but both shots were easily saved by the Madrid keeper.
Liverpool almost took the lead in the 21st minute when Sadio Mane let go of a vicious right foot, after which Courtois bounced the ball off the goal post with his outstretched right arm. The Belgian then picked up the ball that fell out of reach of all the other players.
Madrid almost let Vinicius run for goal in the 30e minute when Toni Kroos sent a defensive pass with the Brazilian on the overlap, but Alexander-Arnold arranged a timely interception to end the move.
Salah had the best chance of the half when Alexander-Arnold found him in the Madrid penalty area with a perfect cross from the right, but the Egyptian’s header went straight for Courtois.
Vinicius Jr had a chance in the 36e minute as he dribbled past a pair of Liverpool defenders in the penalty area, but Henderson was on hand to kick the ball out for a corner before the Brazilian could shoot.
But it was Real Madrid that got the ball first into the back of the net when Benzema shot in from close range after Liverpool made a defence. However, the long VAR check disallowed the goal and it remained 0-0 at halftime. That move, however, only gave a glimpse of how dangerous Madrid could be had they let Benzema loose on goal.
Los Blancos started the second half well as they passed the ball better and the midfield took the lead. But they soon struggled with Liverpool’s urgent play and it was again Alexander-Arnold who put Courtois hard at work to keep a looming cross away.
And it was Real Madrid who made Liverpool pay for their missed opportunities when Vinicius Jr scored in the 59e minute. Andy Robertson being out of position enabled Fede Valverde to run down the right flank and he put in a measured pass into the penalty area, which Alexander-Arnold failed to cut at the far post, enabling Vinicius to tap an easy tap. -in order to put the Spanish giants in charge.
Courtois returned to action in the 64e minute when Salah produced a bit of individual magic, came in and let go of a menacing left foot, only for the Belgian keeper’s outstretched right hand to make the save.
The game started after the goal and Liverpool went in search of the equalizer in numbers. That created space in the back and Vinicius seemed to break a few times on the counter.
Alexander-Arnold remained central to most of Liverpool’s moves, but Real Madrid players showed great technical acumen to keep the pace of the game low.
Casemiro had a great opportunity to extend Madrid’s lead when he found himself just in front of goal at the end of a free kick in a loop, but his first touch let him down.
Liverpool came close again in the 80se minute when a deflection from Diogo Jota went on target, but Courtois was available to turn it around for a corner.
Mo Salah came painfully close in the 82nd minute when he shot on target from close range after being brilliantly fed from the right wing with a looping pass. But Courtois made another brilliant save.
promoted
Madrid defended vigorously for the remainder of the game, closing the game to take a notable win in a season where many believed they were several times missing.
Courtois became the first ever goalkeeper to make 9 saves in the final of a Champions League.
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