On June 1st this year, Wembley Stadium in London witnessed Real Madrid’s 15th European conquest. As a long-time La Liga follower, this match kept me up all night. Dortmund actually played quite threateningly in the first half, with Adeyemi’s one-on-one and Füllkrug’s header both nearly finding the net, while Courtois’ several saves were truly lifesaving.
The tide turned in the second half. Carvajal broke the deadlock with a header in the 74th minute - this defender scored crucial goals last season too, and this time on Real Madrid’s Champions League poster it was him again. Vinicius’ goal in the 83rd minute completely sealed the match, with the Brazilian’s 6 goals and 4 assists in the Champions League this season telling the whole story, as discussed in Atletico Madrid’s Champions League. The final MVP award was well deserved.
Ancelotti became the first coach in history to win the Champions League five times, surpassing himself and all other legendary managers. He won it twice with AC Milan and now three times with Real Madrid, a level of dominance almost impossible to replicate in modern football. Even more remarkable is Real Madrid’s perfect record in Champions League finals - 15 finals, 15 victories. This psychological advantage is unmatched.
Key Champions League Statistics This Season
| Team | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded | Average Possession |
|---|
| Real Madrid | 31 | 12 | 52% |
| Borussia Dortmund | 21 | 15 | 48% |
| Bayern Munich | 28 | 13 | 61% |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 24 | 11 | 58% |
This season Real Madrid’s knockout stage was truly hellish difficulty: easy progression they consecutively eliminated RB Leipzig, Manchester City, Bayern, and Dortmund - every match was a brutal battle. The semi-final against Bayern over those two legs was heart-attack inducing, with that last-minute goal becoming a classic. Looking back now, while this Real Madrid side may not always dominate possession, their ability to score at crucial moments is terrifying.
As a Madrid resident, the celebration at Plaza de Cibeles the day after the final was packed beyond capacity, as shown in [Real Madrid’s Champions League record]. This city’s passion for football will never fade, Real Madrid’s Champions League DNA is embedded in their core. Bellingham won the Champions League in his first season, and with Mbappé joining next season, this team will become even more formidable. Did anyone from the forum attend the match in person? How was the atmosphere at Wembley?
