Real Madrid’s Kroos celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final 2-0 against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Real Madrid is inevitable in the Champions League final. Los Blancos won their 15th Champions League title with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Madrid has won six titles in the last eleven years. Dortmund was looking for its second championship in club history.
Throughout the first half, Dortmund looked the better club, regularly keeping the ball on the Madrid side of the pitch and creating multiple scoring chances. Yet Madrid did not concede a goal as the match went into halftime tied at 0-0.
Madrid looked to change tactics early in the second half and Vinicius Junior blazed a path towards the net that resulted in a free kick. But Toni Kroos’ attempt ended up in the top left corner and Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel tapped it away.
That was the start of Madrid gaining more control and playing more aggressively. At 73:30 Dani Carvajal finally broke through with a header from a Kroos corner that went high and wide left past Kobel for a 1-0 lead. That was Carvajal’s sixth goal of the season, but his first in the Champions League and obviously at the best possible time for Madrid.
Shortly afterwards, at 82:10, Vinicius took a pass from Jude Bellingham and sent it in for a 2-0 lead. Bellingham easily intercepted a centering pass from Ian Maatsen and saw Vinicius burst open for a clear shot and his 24th goal of the season.
Dortmund dominated the first half, but could not score
Dortmund missed several chances to score halfway through the first half. Perhaps the best came from Niclas Füllkrug, whose shot hit the post past Thibaut Courtois.
Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt also had excellent opportunities to open the scoring, but were pushed wide of the net by defenders or a kick went wide.
The action seemed to take place regularly on the Madrid side of the field in the first half. But Dortmund couldn’t break through.
With Madrid holding the match scoreless, Vinicius Junior had a chance at 43:00, streaking down the left side. However, Mats Hummels pushed Junior wide before losing the ball on a slide tackle attempt.
Fans didn’t have time for pregame entertainment
One issue that fans of both clubs – and almost everyone watching in the stadium or on TV – agreed on was that rocker Lenny Kravitz appearing on the field so close to game time was unnecessary.
Kravitz put on a solid performance, mixing hits like “Fly Away” and “Are You Gonna Go My Way” with songs from his new album “Blue Electric Light.” Yet no one is there – especially the Yellow Wall singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ – seemed impressedimpatient for the UCL final to start.
Those Dortmund fans were ultimately delighted with a strong first half from their club. Missing these three scoring chances probably made Madrid’s surge and breakthrough in the second half even more disappointing.
This is how the entire match went live:
LIVE DECLARATION IS OVER44 updates
It is over!
Real Madrid, European champions for the 15th time, more than twice as often as any other club.
They have won six in the last eleven years; only one other club has won more than six throughout the league’s entire seven-decade history.
Dortmund scored well in the first half, but did not have the quality. And the inevitable was indeed inevitable in the end.
Toni Kroos: legend
He was subbed off in the 84th minute and left the pitch with his fists at the Real Madrid fans, as if the match had already been won – because it has. This is Real Madrid.
What a career, and he topped it off with a trademark, precise corner that decided the final.
Madrid played the exact same set play from left-sided angles at least three times: a ball close to the post towards Nacho and Dani Carvajal. All three times it resulted in headers on or almost on target. And Dortmund just couldn’t stop it because Kroos’ deliveries were so precise.
Füllkrug scores, but he is offside
Every inch goes in Real Madrid’s favor in the Champions League final. Incredible.
Still 2-0, two minutes plus injury time to go.
2-0! Vini!
Game, set, match.
Vinicius Jr. punishes Dortmund’s sloppiness.
Jude Bellingham accepts a gift, feeds Vini and a shabby finish almost seals a 15th European title for Real Madrid.
Vini dances and the party mode starts.
Dani Carvajal, the unlikeliest of goalscorers
Of the twenty outfield players on the pitch, was there a more unlikely goalscorer?!?
Carvajal, a 32-year-old full-back playing in his sixth Champions League final today, had scored just once in 86 UCL appearances.
He is also one of the smallest players on the field, at 1.80 meters.
And maybe he could have won the final with a header from a corner!
Goal by Dani Carvajal!
The second Champions League goal of his long career at Real Madrid!
What a moment!
1-0 for Real Madrid.
First sub: Marco Reus
Marco Reus, a Dortmund legend, is in line for Adeyemi.
It is his last match for his youth club. At the age of 35, he will leave at the end of the season.
If he can think of a goal, what a story it would be…
Real Madrid chance
A signature Bellingham run. A wonderfully weighted Vini cross. But Bellingham – who didn’t look 100% physically – appeared to retreat from the aerial duel as Kobel rushed off his line, and neither made real contact.
71st minute, still 0-0.
Strong Courtois save
Niclas Füllkrug blasts a powerful header to Thibaut Courtois, whose save was comfortable but would have been very difficult if the header had been a yard or two to the left or right.
The atmosphere at Wembley:
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 01: A general view of the inside of the stadium as Borussia Dortmund fans use Red Smoke Flares during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on June 1, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Real Madrid has established itself
Not the favorites dominant just. But they have had some clean passages of play and half-chances. A significant departure from the first half.
However, still waiting for a breakthrough – from both sides.
Toni Kroos tests Kobel
Vinicius Jr. led a break of about 1.5 to 7. He postponed expertly, with a little misguidance, and then won a free kick.
Kroos sent that free kick towards the top corner and Gregor Kobel was able to push it away with his hand.
0-0, 50th minute.
Second half underway
No personnel changes. But there certainly must be some A change of sorts for Real Madrid.
Halftime: 0-0
Dortmund were clearly the better team in those 45 minutes. The raw xG number (expected goals) was incredibly and surprisingly skewed: Dortmund 1.7, Real Madrid 0.1
But with all the star power on Real Madrid’s side, Dortmund just couldn’t quite capitalize on the chances they created.
Exciting, fascinating second half ahead.
Dortmund all over Real Madrid
Adeyemi and Füllkrug come close again.
Dortmund just had a 6-on-3 counter-attack from a Real Madrid corner.
Only one team seems to score.
But remember: if history tells us anything… Real Madrid have Dortmund exactly where they want them.
Time and time again, Madrid sleepwalks through parts of Champions League matches, and somehow, somehow, aura saves them.
Example: the final two years ago. Half-time reading, if you’re interested.
