King Carlo did it one more time! The Champions League once again ended in Real Madrid’s trophy cabinet as Ancelotti’s Los Blancos disposed of Borussia Dortmund with two second half goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior in the UCL Final at Wembley.
This is the fifth time that the Italian coach wins the top European competition, and the 15th that Real Madrid lift it. No football manager has even come close to that. Carlo Ancelotti’s legend continues and, on August 14, he will have the chance to add even one more feather to his cap as he will take on Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta in the European Super Cup. We just cannot wait.
Tonight, not even a courageous and reckless approach helped Dortmund. The Germans were definitely the better side in the first half as they hit the post with Niclas Fullkrug and were denied by Thibaut Courtois in two more occasions. But the Merengues were clinical as usual and broke the balance on 74 minutes as Carvajal headed the ball home from a corner kick.
Nine minutes later, Vinicius wrapped it for Real Madrid as he took advantage of a colossal blunder from Ian Maatsen to pick a service from Jude Bellingham and beat Gregor Kobel for the second time.
The Champions League Final had had an unexpected start as three separate pitch invaders managed to sneak past security and set their feet on Wembley after just 25 seconds. They had a couple of minutes to take selfies and simulate a Cristiano Ronaldo goal celebration before they would be taken away.
When football proceedings could finally commence, Edin Terzic’s side were quick to take control. Their offences evidenced the Real’s two center back’s difficulties when taken on the counter. Mats Hummels picked Karim Adeyemi with a spectacular pass through, but Carvajal managed to block the winger’s shot right when he was ready to slot the ball into the untended goal after dashing past Courtois.
A few minutes later, it was Fullkrug to sneak past Real’s defensive line, but his conclusion hit the post. Courtois had to go above and beyond to deny Adeyemi first, and then to palm away Marcel Sabitzer’s attempt from outside the box. At half time, the score was still 0-0 but the Germans would have deserved at least one goal.
Real’s first shooting attempt came from a Toni Kroos free kick early after the restart, which Kobel deflected in corner. This was Kroos’ last game at Real, just like his fellow countryman Marco Reus, who came in as a substitute on 72 minutes, played his last game for Borussia tonight.
But if Reus did not manage to make an impact in his final appearance, Kroos put his stamp on Los Blancos‘ triumph as he took the corner kick from which Carvajal opened the scoring for Ancelotti’s band.
Real’s first goal switched the momentum in their favor as Dortmund virtually disappeared from the game. Kobel kept his side afloat with three key saves from Kroos, Eduardo Camavinga, and Nacho but could not prevent Vinicius from finishing the job for Real Madrid on 83 minutes.
The Brazilian scored the final goal of the night, just like he had done two years ago when he bagged the winner in the Final against Liverpool. Fullkrug had one goal ruled out for offside and that was Dortmund’s last sign of life.
It ended with Real Madrid celebrating la decimaquinta – the third they won under Carlo Ancelotti’s guidance. King Carlo thus wrapped up a season that also saw him win La Liga and the Spanish Supercup. There’s just no coach like him at present time, period.
MATCH SCORECARD
June 1, 2024 – UEFA Champions League 2023/2024 Final
BORUSSIA DORTMUND – REAL MADRID 0-2
SCORERS: 74′ Carvajal, 83′ Vinicius
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BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Emre Can (80′ Malen), Sabitzer; Sancho, Brandt (80′ Haller), Adeyemi (72′ Reus); Fullkrug (Wolf, Ozcan, Nmecha, Moukoko, Sule, Meyer, Lotka, Watjen) Coach: Terzic |
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REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos (85′ Modric); Bellingham (85′ Joselu); Vinicius Junior (94′ Lucas), Rodrygo (90′ Eder Militao) (Lunin, Kepa, Alaba, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Fran Garcìa, Brahim Diaz, Arda Guler) Coach: Ancelotti |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Schlotterbeck, Sabitzer, Hummels (B), Vinicius (R); Added Time: 1st Half 4′, 2nd Half 5′