Surpassing immense pressure from Dortmund for over two-thirds of the final, Real Madrid exploded with two decisive blows to seal their opponent’s fate, ascending to the pinnacle of the prestigious Champions League.
Just a year after a bitter semi-final loss to Man City, Real Madrid bounced back to claim their 15th Champions League title in history. Dortmund, despite their efforts, couldn’t avoid the inevitable outcome many anticipated before the 2-6 dawn match at Wembley.
“Frightening”
Real Madrid’s dominance in European finals since the 1997-1998 season is undeniable, winning all eight finals they’ve participated in. This relentless success has led to widespread recognition of Real Madrid’s “European champion gene,” making them born winners. Liverpool felt this might in the 2021-2022 final, and now Dortmund has experienced it too.
Despite facing fierce attacks and numerous scoring chances from opponents, Real Madrid’s defense, led by the formidable Thibault Courtois, consistently denies success. This pattern, far from being mere luck, showcases their innate ability to score crucial goals under pressure.
In the 2022 final against Liverpool, Real Madrid endured relentless pressure but seized their single chance to score through Vinicius Junior. Against Dortmund this year, Courtois once again stood as an unbreakable fortress, while Dani Carvajal’s header broke the deadlock, followed by Vinicius Junior’s goal that sealed Dortmund’s fate.
Real Madrid’s repeated success, marked by essential goals and resilient defense, is no accident. After Carvajal’s opening goal, Coach Carlo Ancelotti remained unperturbed, as if knowing it was destined.
Is the game becoming monotonous?
As Man City dominates English football for four consecutive seasons, questions arise about when another team might challenge Pep Guardiola’s reign. Similar sentiments are echoed in Europe, where Real Madrid’s 15 European titles, including six in the last ten seasons, set a daunting benchmark.
Luis Nieto, a writer for the AS newspaper, provided a comprehensive description of Real Madrid’s unprecedented and possibly unparalleled achievement in his post-final article:
“This marks the 15th time the invincible team has claimed the top spot. Almost every two years for the past decade, Real Madrid has added another Champions League title. It seems Real Madrid never experiences a downturn. Legendary names come and go—Alfredo di Stefano, Raul Gonzalez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, and now Toni Kroos—but the royal team always remains number one. These departures seemed irreplaceable, yet somehow, Real Madrid continues its successful journey.”
Toni Kroos completed his final match for Real Madrid with outstanding performance. Alongside Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal, the German midfielder now holds six Champions League titles, matching the total of AC Milan throughout their history.
Carlo Ancelotti secured his seventh Champions League title, counting his achievements as both a player and a coach. Only Real Madrid boasts more titles than the seasoned Italian manager, who uniquely holds five titles with AC Milan and Real Madrid.
A bright future lies ahead for Real Madrid with stars like Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Valverde, Rodrygo, Militao, Tchouameni, and Camavinga at their peak. The imminent arrivals of Kylian Mbappe and 18-year-old prodigy Endrick raise the question: who can stop Real from winning their 16th, 17th, or even 18th European titles?
Real Madrid remains powerful in the post-Galacticos 2.0 era, topping Deloitte’s 2024 rankings and Football Benchmark’s valuation. This season, they clinched the Champions League, La Liga, and the Spanish Super Cup, narrowly missing the Copa del Rey. With only two defeats across all competitions and Vinicius Jr. a candidate for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid reaffirms their dominance in European football.
Welcome back, Real Madrid, the “king” of European football!