The Spanish side, known for their resilience and experience in high-stakes matches, weathered a dominant first-half performance from Dortmund before capitalizing on their opportunities in the second half.
Dortmund, appearing in their first Champions League final since 2013, started brightly and created numerous scoring chances.Karim Adeyemi, Niclas Füllkrug, Julian Brandt, and Marcel Sabitzer all came close to breaking the deadlock, but Thibaut Courtois, in his fifth appearance of an injury-interrupted season, produced several crucial saves to keep Real Madrid level.
Despite Dortmund’s early pressure, Real Madrid remained composed and gradually grew into the game in the second half. Toni Kroos tested Gregor Kobel with a free-kick before Dani Carvajal broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, heading in a Kroos corner.
The goal shifted the momentum decisively in Real Madrid’s favour. Vinicius Jr. doubled their lead in the 83rd minute, finishing clinically after being released by Jude Bellingham’s misplaced pass. Although Füllkrug had a late goal ruled out for offside, Dortmund were unable to mount a comeback.
The victory marked Real Madrid’s sixth Champions League title in 11 seasons, a testament to their sustained dominance in the competition. Carlo Ancelotti, already a two-time Champions League winner as a player with AC Milan, secured his fifth title as a manager, further cementing his legacy as one of the most successful coaches in the tournament’s history.
Dortmund, with their energetic pressing and direct attacking play, posed a significant threat, particularly in the first half. However, Real Madrid’s experience, tactical discipline, and clinical finishing ultimately proved decisive. Their ability to absorb pressure and punish opponents on the counter-attack, a hallmark of their recent successes, was once again on full display.
(Inputs from Reuters)
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