Real Madrid touches the sky with its Champions League 15

Real Madrid won its fifteenth Champions League.

Real Madrid suffered in the first half, but in the second half they made adjustments, dominated and ended up beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at the legendary Wembley.

Goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinícius Júnior secured Real Madrid's fifteenth Champions League title on Saturday, overcoming a forgiving Borussia Dortmund team.

After a lackluster first half, Real Madrid stepped up in the second half. They capitalized on a header from Dani Carvajal and a goal from Vinícius Júnior, following a glaring error by the German defense, to claim another continental trophy.

In the first 45 minutes, Madrid's play was uncharacteristic. They focused on maintaining possession without advancing the game. Although they dominated the ball, it was Borussia Dortmund who had a clearer strategy.

The Germans' disregard for possession had a clear strategy: exploiting speed, space, and their wingers. Karim Adeyemi dominated Dani Carvajal in the first 45 minutes.

Carvajal, the only player to feature in all six of Madrid’s finals since Lisbon, struggled against Adeyemi. The German winger found himself one-on-one with Courtois after a well-placed ball from Hummels.

With ample time and a significant advantage, Adeyemi opted to round the goalkeeper instead of shooting. His nervous and awkward touch sent the ball off at an angle, squandering his chance for glory.

This wasn't an isolated incident. Following Adeyemi’s miss, Füllkrug had a shot well-saved by Courtois, who also made crucial stops against Sabitzer and Adeyemi. In the first half, Madrid's expected goals statistic was 1.7, a testament to their precarious position despite their 14-time champion status.

Given Madrid's dismal first half, improvement was imperative. Any further decline or stagnation would mean bidding farewell to the 'Orejona.'

Madrid's historical resilience came into play in the second half. Carvajal made his presence felt with a volley that was blocked by the defense, signaling a shift in momentum. This was followed by a crucial save by Kobel from a Kroos free kick.

Madrid gradually found their footing, though not without their characteristic heart-stopping moments, such as Courtois' save on a Füllkrug header. They entered the game at their own pace, steadily building momentum.

Nacho had mentioned preferring to start with a lead rather than having to come back, but he never said they wouldn't suffer along the way. Ancelotti had cautioned, "this is the most dangerous match."

The fear, danger, worry, and nerves that grip the body as soon as the Champions League anthem finishes playing and the team faces Borussia Dortmund's yellow wall disappeared for Dani Carvajal when he attacked the near post during a Kroos corner. The youth player, who laid the first stone in the new sports city, unblocked the night with his goal.

The initial fear, often influenced by luck and the starting hand, faded away. The pressure shifted to the inexperienced Germans, who conceded the second goal and ultimately the final.

A catastrophic error by Maatsen, delivering a poor pass, left Bellingham and Vinícius in a two-on-one situation. The Englishman, who had missed a chance moments before, connected with the Brazilian, who sealed the victory with a slightly mishit shot.

This fifteenth title adds to the illustrious showcases of the largest club in European Cup history. It marks the farewell of Kroos, who pointed to the badge after completing his job. As of this Saturday at Wembley, Real Madrid boasts yet another title.

Champions League: Qualifications of Real Madrid's '15'

The Merengue team endured challenging periods against Dortmund, but their decisive moments came just in time to secure another Champions League victory.

Despite suffering through the first half, Real Madrid clinched their fifteenth Champions League title by defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on the legendary Wembley pitch. Goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinícius Jr., along with standout performances from Thibaut Courtois, Toni Kroos, and Eduardo Camavinga, were key to their triumph.

Thibaut Courtois (8.5)

Despite missing most of the season due to injury, the Belgian goalkeeper returned to peak form when it mattered most. He held firm against defensive lapses in the first half and denied the opposition clear scoring opportunities throughout the match.

Ferland Mendy (8.5)

The left-back had an outstanding game, effectively shutting down his flank. He won every duel against Jadon Sancho and provided crucial support in neutralizing Füllkrug's threats.

Nacho Fernandez (8)

The defender performed silent but crucial work throughout the game, effectively containing Jadon Sancho and Sabitzer in the second line.

Antonio Rüdiger (8)

The central defender maintained absolute concentration during the most intense moments, adeptly correcting Carvajal's errors on the right flank with reliability.

Dani Carvajal (8.5)

The right back provided crucial depth on his flank to break through the opponent's pressure, though he struggled to keep up with Adeyemi on counterattacks and occasionally miscoordinated with the defensive line, compromising the area.

Despite these errors, Carvajal became the hero of Real Madrid's fifteenth European Cup. His far-post header inside the six-yard box from a left corner kick scored the first goal of the match, leading to victory (74').

Toni Kroos (8.5)

Kroos started the match directing long plays to the opposite flank to unsettle Dortmund. However, the game situation forced him to drop back, even behind Camavinga, to support the defense and initiate attacks as the first man out of the back.

Eduardo Camavinga (8.5)

Camavinga became Madrid's metronome, distributing the ball effectively under pressure. He also excelled in defense, making key tackles and interceptions.

Federico Valverde (8)

Dortmund's first-half offensive pressure highlighted Valverde's defensive capabilities as he provided constant support for Carvajal against Adeyemi. In the second half, he played with more offensive intent, though with limited clarity and impact.

Jude Bellingham (7)

Bellingham appeared uncomfortable in his role supporting Rodrygo and Vinícius. He moved across the field to create superiority in the flanks but struggled throughout the night, missing a couple of scoring opportunities with his head and right foot.

Vinícius Jr. (8.5)

In his second Champions League final, Vinícius scored his second goal. He struggled against Hummels' marking in the first half and found it difficult to penetrate the area, but eventually wore down his opponent and secured the victory with his goal (83').

Rodrygo (7)

The Brazilian struggled to find his footing throughout the match and had limited contact with the ball, contributing little to the offense on the right side of the field.

Substitutes

Joselu -> Bellingham (7)

(85') The forward transitioned from being a fervent Real Madrid supporter during the 2022 Paris final to becoming an integral part of the team, celebrating the club's fifteenth European triumph on the pitch.

Luka Modric -> Kroos (7.5)

(86') Modric was brought on to bring his wealth of experience to the midfield and see out the final minutes with fresh energy. He also served as a replacement for his long-time partner, who bows out as a legend of Real Madrid.

Lucas Vázquez -> Vinícius Jr. (S/C)

(90') Vázquez was brought in to provide defensive stability in the closing minutes and applaud the Brazilian striker's performance.

Éder Militão (S/C)

(90') Militão entered in the dying moments of the game to help run down the clock and secure the victory.