Real Madrid scored two goals in the final 20 minutes to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the 2024 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, extending the club’s record to a 15th European title.
Dani Carvajal (73′) and Vinicius Júnior (83′) were the top scorers for Real Madrid, who lifted the Champions League for the sixth time in the last 11 seasons.
At Wembley Stadium in London, Borussia Dortmund dominated the first half but failed to convert some of their big chances, denying Real Madrid a chance to turn things around at the end of the first half.
Here’s how Saturday’s match unfolded:
Last: Real Madrid 2, Borussia Dortmund 0
Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 thanks to late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior to become European champions for the 15th time.
GOAL! Vinicius Jr. seals victory for Madrid in the 83rd minute
Dortmund looked tired but in the 83rd minute Vinicius Junior scored with his left foot past Gregor Kobel to put Real Madrid up 2-0 and all but secure the club’s 15th European Championship title.
GOAL! Dani Carvajal puts Real Madrid up 1-0
Defender Dani Carvajal headed in a corner kick in the 74th minute to give Real Madrid a 1-0 lead with under 15 minutes to go.
Carvajal tipped Toni Kroos’ corner past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, the Spanish international’s surprise scorer who gave Madrid the taste of winning their 15th European Championship.
The 32-year-old Carvajal is in his 11th season with Real Madrid and has scored for just the second time in more than 80 European appearances.
Madrid-Dortmund still scoreless after 55 minutes
The second half is underway at Wembley Stadium with Borussia Dortmund looking to keep up the pressure after a dominant first 45 minutes.
Real Madrid, bidding to win their 15th European Cup, looked vulnerable on the counter-attack and forced two big saves from Thibaut Courtois.
Halftime: Real Madrid 0, Borussia Dortmund 0
After dominating the first 45 minutes, Dortmund will no doubt be frustrated at the half-time whistle. Germany were the much better team in the first half, taking eight shots (three on goal) against the 14-time champions. Germany should have had the upper hand, but they missed two big chances before the break.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois prevented Dortmund from scoring, but the team will need to tighten up defensively in the second half.
27th minute: Two chances for Borussia Dortmund
Minutes after Karim Adeyemi was unable to get past Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a one-on-one situation, Dortmund’s Niklas Fürkrug struck the post but replays showed he would likely have been ruled offside had he scored.
As of the 27th minute, there were still no goals.
Champions League final to be held in London
In the first 15 minutes, both teams shared the ball, with Real Madrid having two shots on goal and Dortmund having one. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior had a great chance in the 15th minute, but his shot from inside the penalty area went wide.
Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund lineups
Real Madrid’s lineup for Saturday is as follows:
Borussia Dortmund starting line-up:
Where will the 2024 Champions League Final take place?
London’s Wembley Stadium will host the 2024 UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday.
This will be the third final to be played at the new Wembley Stadium – Barcelona beat Manchester United in 2011 and Bayern Munich beat Dortmund in an all-German clash in 2013.
Thibaut Courtois returns to goalkeeping at Real Madrid
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti on Friday put an end to the team’s goalkeeping debate by announcing that Thibaut Courtois will start in place of Andriy Lunin for Saturday’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.
Courtois, widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, has started five games since returning from a lengthy absence following a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in August.
Substitute Lunin was a star during Real’s La Liga title-winning campaign and was the hero when they beat Manchester City on penalties to reach the Champions League semi-finals, so his return presents the Italian manager with a tough decision.
–Reuters
Clubs with the most Champions League wins
Real Madrid have won the competition 14 times, more than any other club.
Here we list all the clubs who have won this competition multiple times.
- real madrid: 14 times
- AC Milan: 7
- Bayern Munich: 6
- Liverpool: 6
- Barcelona: Five
- Ajax: Four
- Inter Milan: 3
- Manchester United: 3
- Juventus: 2
- Benfica: 2
- Chelsea: 2
- Nottingham Forest: 2
- Porto: 2
Marco Reus plays his final game for Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus has long been considered one of the most talented players of his generation but an injury-plagued career has prevented him from achieving great success, but the German is now ready to leave the club with a Champions League trophy in hand.
The 34-year-old attacking midfielder leaves Dortmund after 12 years but is hoping to end his final game with the club on a high by beating powerhouses Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
“Borussia Dortmund means everything to me,” Reus said this week. “When you’ve been at a club for 12 years, it should mean everything.”
–Reuters
Champions League final preview: Dortmund must be ‘courageous’ to win
Borussia Dortmund are not here just to watch Real Madrid lift a record-extending 15th Champions League trophy this season, coach Edin Terzic vowed on Friday, ahead of the showdown at Wembley.
“Not to play in finals, but to win finals, that’s our clear goal,” said Terzic, who will face off against exemplary Carlos Ancelotti.
Dortmund finished a distant fifth in the Bundesliga this season and few would have expected them to reach their first Champions League final since 2013, when they lost to title favourites Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium.
“(Real) are playing the role of favourites but we were not favourites against Atletico or Paris,” Terzic said.
“If we are brave and don’t come here to see Madrid win the next trophy, then we have a chance.”
–Reuters
Jadon Sancho thrives at Dortmund after feud with Manchester United
Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho says it feels surreal that he will be playing in Saturday’s Champions League final at Wembley Stadium after struggling for playing time at Manchester United.
The 24-year-old joined United from Dortmund in August 2021 for a transfer fee of 85 million euros (about 10 billion yen), but he was unable to maintain a regular position in the team and was loaned out to Germany in January due to a feud with manager Erik ten Hag.
“It felt surreal, to be honest with you. Again, it still hasn’t sunk in,” he told CNN in an interview published Thursday.
“It’s a bit crazy. I don’t think anyone expected this, me to be in a Champions League final, especially where I’m from? I’m just happy.”
–Reuters
Champions League winners list
- 2022-23: Manchester
- 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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