With two goals in the last 20 minutes, Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on Saturday in the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, extending the club’s record 15th European title.
Dani Carvajal (74th minute) and Vinicius Junior (83rd minute) were the scoring heroes for Real Madrid, who secured their sixth Champions League victory in the last 11 seasons.
“That’s Real Madrid for you,” midfielder Jude Bellingham, 20, told CBS Sports after winning the Champions League in his first season with the club. “We have game-winning goals all over the field and we showed it again tonight.”
Bellingham called it “the best night of my life.”
Dortmund had dominated in the first half but were unable to capitalize on some big opportunities, leaving Madrid to get away with it as half-time restored the momentum at London’s Wembley Stadium.
“After the first half, we didn’t even deserve to go to the locker room with an equal score,” said Carvajal, whose goal was his first in the Champions League since 2015. “But we came out of the first half alive halftime, knowing that we would have our moment…and here it is.”
Dortmund manager Edin Terzi said: “We did a lot of things well, but they had that killer instinct. They were ice cold and they are deserved champions.”
Here’s how Saturday’s match went:
Final: Real Madrid 2, Borussia Dortmund 0
Real Madrid were crowned kings of Europe for a record 15th time with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday.
Big favorites going into the match, the Spaniards were dominated for long periods, but broke Dortmund’s resistance with late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr.
Veteran right-back Carvajal headed in a header from a Toni Kroos corner in the 74th minute, sparking Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
It was also a record fifth triumph as manager for Ancelotti, who also won it twice as an AC Milan player.
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Aim! Vinicius Jr. seals the score for Madrid in the 83rd minute
With Dortmund looking tired, Vinicius Junior fired a left-footed shot past Gregor Kobel in the 83rd minute to extend Real Madrid’s lead to 2-0, almost winning the club’s 15th European Championship.
Aim! Dani Carvajal makes it 1-0 at Real Madrid
Defender Dani Carvajal headed in a corner in the 74th minute, putting Real Madrid 1-0 up with less than a quarter of an hour to play.
Carvajal turned Toni Kroos’ corner across the face of goal and headed past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, the Spain international an unlikely scorer as Madrid can now taste their 15th European Championship.
Playing his 11th season with Real Madrid, Carvajal, 32, scored for only the second time in more than 80 European appearances.
Madrid against Dortmund still scoreless in the 55th minute
The second half begins at Wembley Stadium with Borussia Dortmund trying to keep up the pressure after a dominant performance in the first 45 minutes.
In search of their 15th European champion title, Real Madrid showed themselves vulnerable on the counterattack and required two big saves from Thibaut Courtois.
Halftime: Real Madrid 0, Borussia Dortmund 0
After dominating the first 45 minutes, Dortmund must have been unhappy at the half-time whistle. The Germans were the much better team in the first half, managing eight shots (three on goal) against the 14-time champions. They probably should be in the lead, but wasted a few big opportunities before the intermission.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois managed to keep Dortmund out, but his team must clean things up at the back in the second half.
27′: Borussia Dortmund comes close twice
Minutes after Karim Adeyemi failed to get around Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during a 1-on-1, Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug hit the post, although replays showed it likely would have been flagged off -game if he had scored.
We are still scoreless in the 27th minute.
The Champions League final takes place in London
The two teams shared possession in the first 15 minutes, with Real Madrid managing two shots to Dortmund’s one. Vinícius Júnior had a good chance in the 15th minute for Real Madrid, but missed his attempt from inside the area.
Lineups of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund
Here’s how Real Madrid will line up on Saturday:
Borussia Dortmund starting lineup:
Where is the Champions League final taking place in 2024?
Wembley Stadium in London hosts the 2024 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday.
This is the third final to be played at the new Wembley, with Barcelona beating Manchester United in 2011 and Bayern Munich beating Dortmund in the 2013 all-German affair.
Thibaut Courtois back in goal for Real Madrid
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti ended the debate over his team’s goalkeepers on Friday by announcing that Thibaut Courtois will replace Andriy Lunin in Saturday’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
Widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Courtois has started five games since returning from a lengthy absence after suffering a torn ACL in August.
His return had left the Italian coach facing a tricky decision as replacement Lunin shone during Real’s La Liga title campaign and was the hero as they beat Manchester City on penalties to reach the semis. -Champions League finals.
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Clubs with the most Champions League titles
Real Madrid have won the tournament 14 times, a record among all clubs.
Here’s a look at all the clubs that have won the competition multiple times:
- real Madrid: 14 times
- AC Milan:7
- Bayern Munich: 6
- Liverpool: 6
- Barcelona:5
- Ajax:4
- Inter Milan:3
- Manchester United:3
- Juventus:2
- Benfica:2
- Chelsea: 2
- Nottingham Forest:2
- Port:2
Marco Reus plays Borussia Dortmund’s final match
Long considered one of the most talented players of his generation, Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus failed to achieve great success during an injury-plagued career, but the German is now ready to move on the club with the Champions League trophy.
The 34-year-old attacking midfielder is leaving Dortmund after 12 years at the club and will hope to do so in style in his final game for them by beating mighty Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
“Borussia Dortmund means everything to me,” Reus said this week. “When you’re 12 years old at a club, that means everything.”
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Champions League final preview: Dortmund must be ‘brave’ to win
Borussia Dortmund have not traveled this far in the Champions League this season to be mere witnesses to Real Madrid lifting the trophy for a record 15th time, manager Edin Terzic promised on the eve of the Wembley match on Friday .
“We don’t play a final, we win a final and that is our clear objective,” said Terzic, who will face his role model Carlos Ancelotti.
Dortmund finished a distant fifth in the Bundesliga this season and few would have given them much hope of reaching their first Champions League final since 2013, when Wembley also hosted defeat to favorites Bayern Munich.
“(Real) has a role as favorites, but we were not favorites against Atletico or Paris either,” Terzic said.
“If we are brave and we are not there to see Madrid win their next trophy, then we will have a chance.”
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Jadon Sancho shines for Dortmund after Manchester United row
Borussia Dortmund striker Jadon Sancho says it feels surreal to play in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday after struggling to gain game time at Manchester United.
The 24-year-old joined United from Dortmund for 85 million euros ($92 million) in August 2021, but failed to hold down a regular place and returned to Germany on loan in January after s being mixed up with his manager Erik ten Hag.
“To be honest, it seemed surreal. Again, it still didn’t hit me,” he told CNN in an interview published Thursday.
“It’s a bit crazy, you know, I don’t think anyone would have expected it – for me to be in the Champions League final, especially where I’m from? I’m just happy.”
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List of Champions League winners
- 2022-23: Manchester City
- 2021-22: Real Madrid
- 2020-21:Chelsea
- 2019-20: Bayern Munich
- 2018-19:Liverpool
- 2017-18: Real Madrid
- 2016-17: Real Madrid
- 2015-16: Real Madrid
- 2014-15: Barcelona
- 2013-14: Real Madrid
- 2012-13: Bayern Munich
- 2011-12:Chelsea
- 2010-11: Barcelona
- 2009-10: Inter Milan
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