CHAMPIONS
KYIV, UKRAINE — A Gareth Bale wonder-strike and two massive errors from keeper Loris Karius saw Real Madrid down Liverpool, 3-1, on Saturday to earn a third successive Champions League and 13th European soccer title overall.
Bale’s sensational overhead kick, just moments after being introduced as a substitute, was in stark contrast to Real’s first and third goals which were little more than gifts.
Karim Benzema pounced on a loose throw from Karius to open the scoring and the keeper fumbled Bale’s long-range drive over the line to settle matters late.
Sadio Mane had poked home from close range to tie the score but Liverpool, who made the early running until losing talisman Mohamad Salah to injury on the half-hour, were beaten.
Real becomes the first team to claim a hat trick of continental crowns since Bayern Munich in 1974-76, and their run of four wins in five years makes them the most dominant team since their previous glory era at the start of the competition in the 1950s.
“This is what we were looking for, we knew it’d be tough but we deserved to win,” star Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo said. “Finals are always complicated, but we deserved this. We’ve made history.”
Coach Zinedine Zidane named the same 11 that started last year’s final against Juventus and nine who began two years ago against Atletico Madrid.
“What we’re living through is impressive; I don’t really have the words,” Zidane said. “I told the players to enjoy this moment — they’ll never experience anything like it again.”
Liverpool, chasing a sixth Champions title of their own and first since 2005, unsettled Real with early pressing but it was the titleholders who had the first chance, Ronaldo firing over from a tight angle.
At the other end Roberto Firmino had a shot blocked and teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold had his followup well saved by Keylor Navas.
The tide turned on the halfhour when Salah landed awkwardly on his shoulder after being pulled down by Sergio Ramos.
The Egyptian left the pitch in tears moments later to be replaced by Adam Lallana.
Real took advantage as the Reds lost focus without their top scorer and inspiration.
Ronaldo, possibly offside, saw his header superbly saved by Karius but the flag did go up against Benzema, who turned in the rebound.
Real opened the scoring from nowhere in the 48th when Karius attempted a quick throw which the alert Benzema blocked into the net.
Mane briefly eased Karius’s blushes by turning in Dejan Lovren’s header from a corner four minutes later.
“It’s disappointing of course,” Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said. “We did well to get the goal and get back in the game, but we made mistakes and Madrid were really good.
“It’s not about Loris Karius and the mistakes he might have made; it’s about the team. I hope we can keep going and get into more finals.”
Karius, and everyone else, was then powerless to stop Bale’s effort finding the top corner in 64 when the Welshman acrobatically rose to meet Marcelo’s cross from the left.
“Obviously I was very disappointed not to start the game, I felt I deserved it but the manager makes the decisions,” Bale told BT Sport.
“The best I have been doing is to come on and make an impact, I certainly did.
“It is a team game but when you are a substitute, it is a game of more than 11 players. I made an impact.”
Liverpool attempted to respond again and Mane rattled the outside of the post with a long-range drive.
Ronaldo was quiet by his standards though a fantastic saving tackle from Andy Robertson
stopped him sealing the game en route to his fifth career Champions League victory.
Any doubt was removed in the 83rd minute when Karius failed to keep out Bale’s speculative drive and the Real players could begin their celebrations, even if they were briefly distracted by a pitch invader.
So too could coach Zidane, the first boss to win three consecutive titles with same club, as he eased the pressure of a disappointing league season.
“We know what we have achieved and how good we have been,” said Bale. “The league was disappointing but we won the Champions League. It turns out to be a great season.”
But Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp’s wait for European glory continues following a third defeat in a continental final.