Clinical and ruthless Real clinch hattrick
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Bale’s twogoal burst, Salah’s injury and Karius’ slipups hand Real Madrid 31 victory over Liverpool
KIEV: Liverpool came into Saturday’s Champions League final against Real Madrid on a wave of confidence but Zinedine Zidane’s side showed exactly why they are the masters of Europe’s top club competition in their 3-1 win.
Real have now won three Champions League titles in a row, something no team has achieved since the switch from the European Cup knockout format, and while they may not be remembered as the most attractive or transformative of teams there is no doubt they know how to win on the biggest stage.
Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool produced exhilarating football on their way to the final, ripping apart Porto, Manchester City and AS Roma with some thrilling attacking displays.
But this Real side, who finished third in La Liga have a habit of taking the wind out of their opponent’s sails and finding a way to win.
Two goals were simply handed to Real by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, whose hapless performance will be remembered as one of the worst by a keeper at this level. But both those mistakes had to be capitalised upon, and Real rarely turn down such gifts.
Karim Benzema reacted sharply and with alertness to take advantage of Karius’s rushed throw in his direction, to open the scoring.
Karius was also at fault for Real’s third when Gareth Bale fired a hopeful, long range effort through the wafting hands of the German keeper. Good fortune, without a doubt, but Bale had the nous to realise the keeper was vulnerable and the ability to expose him. The Welshman’s confidence came from his earlier goal, a brilliant bicycle kick that put Real 2-1 up.
Zidane gets little credit for Real’s success and is viewed as a fortunate man who took over a well-established side and merely kept them running smoothly - at least in Europe.
But the Frenchman was prancing around the touchline after Bale’s screamer, which came just three minutes after he had brought the Welshman on.
It was an inspired switch and a brave one given that the player who was withdrawn, Isco, had until that point been Real’s most dangerous attacking threat.
Real may not be a team that charm the neutrals or raise the heartbeat but it is impossible not to respect a side which, as Klopp had noted before the game, have the efficiency and reliability of a Swiss watch.
the first player to score two goals in a Champions League final after coming off the bench in the 61st minute. But what was even more spectacular was the way in which he achieved this feat.
a bicycle kick finish,
who was carrying Liverpool’s hopes following a brilliant season, landed awkwardly on his shoulder after Ramos had brought the Egyptian star down in an almost judo-style tackle. Salah exited the field in tears and in apparent despair, even
is the most carded player in the history of Champions League and so it was no surprise that his tackle on Mohamed Salah raised eyebrows on whether it was a calculated foul. Salah had got past
who took charge of Real in January 2016, became the third manager to win three Champions League titles. The Frenchman has also won two UEFA Super Cups and two Club World Cups. Domestically, he has succeeded in the La Liga just two minutes after coming on was arguably one of his finest and will surely go in as one of the greatest Champions League final goals. The Welshman met Marcelo cross with a brilliant acrobatic finesse effort. The goal has also earned comparison with prompting Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp to compare the challenge to wrestling. The fall ruled Salah out of the game, taking a certain sting out of the final but could also spell doom for Egypt’s World Cup campaign. Ramos, who grabbed him by the arm, and tussled him to the floor. Ramos walked away without a card and left Liverpool without their most lethal player for the majority of the game. once and won one Spanish Super Cup – thus has nothing left to win as Real Madrid manager. His tactical decision to introduce Bale changed the course of the game as the former Tottenham star scored twice to seal victory for Real.
left-footed rocket of a strike in 2002 final against Bayer Leverkusen with some feeling Bale’s goal was better.
was off a swerving but tame strike from long range but was fumbled in by Loris Karius. custodian, it was a night to forget. The 24-year-old did end up making a couple of good saves but two shocking errors cost the Reds the game.
their opening goal when he threw the ball in front of Karim Benzema, who stuck his leg out and turned the ball into the net. Karius was also at fault for Real's third goal when Bale’s speculative long-range effort flew in through his flapping arms.