"LA DECIMA!" Real Madrid complete the treble and lift UCL number 15

Sunday 2 June 2024

UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final

Wembley Stadium, London HA9 0WS, UK

Borussia Dortmund Vs Real Madrid

"LA DECIMA!" Real Madrid complete the treble and lift 15th UCL title

Carvajal and Vinicius Jr scored as Real Madrid lifted their 15th UCL title on a thrilling night at Wembley and gave Toni Kroos the best send off against an out-of-steam Borussia Dortmund team.

MATCH PREVIEW:

This is it. The last dance for two German icons, who have put their heart and soul into this wonderful game. And no better place to do it than at Wembley Stadium, London, for the UEFA Champions League Final 2024. Two teams, who have had great runs in Europe, but in other leagues, it's a different Story. The Black and Yellows are in their 3rd final of the Champions League, their first after 11 years. Despite them finishing 5th in the Bundesliga, they have had a brilliant run in this year's competition. Mind you guys, they finished top of Group F, aka. "The Group of Death", with AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain & Newcastle United. They breezed past PSV Eindhoven in the Round of 16, before they produced a memorable comeback against Atletico Madrid, then they squeezed past Kylian Mbappe and PSG, whom they faced of in the group stage earlier, & now, they are 90 minutes away from glory against the "KINGS of Europe", Real Madrid. You can't write off the 14-time winners of this ultimate competition. Unlike Dortmund, they won La Liga, and won the Supercopa in January against arch-rivals Barcelona. With two trophies already, the Madristas have had a difficult ride to the final. The "Los Blancos" (The Whites) finished top of Group C, which included Napoli, Braga and debutants Union Berlin. They just about beat RB Leipzig in the round of 16, before Andriy Lunin's shootout masterclass sent defending champions Manchester City packing in the quarters, before "Super sub" Joselu, a lifelong Real Madrid fan who two years ago, attended the final in Paris as a spectator, sparked the wild celebrations with a brace at Madrid in May that sent Bayern Munich & Harry Kane out of the semi-finals. This is Real Madrid's 4th German opposition this year in the Champions League. This is also the last games for Marco Reus & Toni Kroos, as the 34-year-old international announced his retirement from all football, as he will end his career after the Euros, as he delivered 5 UCL titles, and countless trophies with Los Blancos, since his arrival from Bayern Munich in 2014. Marco Reus officially announced his departure from his boyhood club, Borussia Dortmund, after 12 loyal years, delivering 2 German cups, since he progressed from the Dortmund academy. TONIGHT is the real deal, which of the two Germans will get their deserved send-off? Who will lift the Champions League here at Wembley? Will it be the 14-time winners, Real Madrid for Toni Kroos & a treble, or Borussia Dortmund for Marco Reus?

TEAM NEWS, ROAD TO FINAL & FORM GUIDE:

Borussia Dortmund's Road to Wembley: LDWWWD (Group Stage), W - PSV Eindhoven (RO16), W - Atletico Madrid (QFs), W - Paris Saint-Germain (SFs)

With the team raring to go, Edin Terzic makes one change from their 4-0 home win over Darmstadt with Julian Brandt in place of the departing Marco Reus, who drops to the bench. It is the final game for German icon, Marco Reus, 12 years at Borussia Dortmund since 2012. Formation: 4-2-3-1. Form Guide: WWWLW

Starting XI: Kobel, Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen, Can, Sabitzer, Sancho, Brandt, Adeyemi, Niclas Füllkrug

Substitutes: Meyer, Lotka, Özcan, Nmecha, Haller, Reus, Wolf, Moukoko, Malen, Süle, Wätjen, Bynoe-Gittens

Real Madrid's Road to Wembley: WWWWWW (Group Stage), W - RB Leipzig (RO16), W - Manchester City (QFs on Penalties), W - Bayern Munich (SFs)

There is no Andriy Lunin, as he only makes the bench due to illness, so Thibaut Courtois continues to deputise in goal, with an unchanged team from their goalless home draw against Real Betis. It is the final game for German icon and World Cup Winner of 2014, Toni Kroos as he announced his retirement in April. Formation: 4-3-1-2. Form Guide: WWWDD.

Starting XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Nacho, Rüdiger, Mendy, Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos, Bellingham, Vini Jr, Rodrygo.

Substitutes: Lunin, Kepa, Éder Militao, Alaba, Modric, Joselu, Vázquez, Tchouaméni, Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Brahim Diaz, Güler

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Jude Bellingham: What an incredible debut season he has had!! 25 goal contributions across all competitions and La Liga player of the year! With two trophies in his locker, can he win his first ever UCL by making an impact in today's final?

Vinicius Jr.: What a season he has had. Scored the winner against Liverpool at Paris in 2022, and he has reached another UCL final. With 15 goals in all competitions this season, can he add to his tally tonight?

Niclas Füllkrug: What a signing he has been for Borussia Dortmund!! Having bagged 20 goal contributions this season, can he score tonight to win his first ever UCL?

Mats Hummels: The icon himself has been outstanding in this season's champions league. Having picked up a Man of the Match performance for his impressive defensive work against PSG, can he do it again?

KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF

AWAY WE GO AT WEMBLEY!! Dortmund kick-off with the hope of winning their 2nd title of this glamorous competition, whereas Real would want to win their record-breaking 15th title and complete a treble. Can the whites become the 6th team in Europe, after Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan to do it? We are about to see. There is a sense of threat that Dortmund have, with Jadon Sancho and Karim Adeyemi using their pace to trouble Carvajal and Mendy. Flying challenges from both teams, with defences on high alert for any attack being orchestrated. On 21 minutes, the game's first big chance. Adeyemi is through on goal with a beautiful pass from Mats Hummels, and HE HAS ROUNDED COURTOIS, CAN HE DELIVER THE FINISH? NO HE CAN'T!!! BRILLIANT DEFENDING FROM CARVAJAL, WHO TRACKS BACK AND PUTS THE BALL BEHIND FOR A DORTMUND CORNER, IN FRONT OF THEIR FANS!! Massive opportunity for die Schwarzgelben (Black and Yellows)!! And another chance on 23 minutes. Well, Real lose the ball and Ian Maatsen wins it, threads the ball to Füllkrug, AND THERE'S THE SHOT AND OHHH!!! SO VERY CLOSE TO THE OPENER IN THIS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL!! THE BALL CRASHES ONTO THE POST, AND THE FORMER BREMEN STRIKER IS SO UNLUCKY!! HOW LUCKY ARE REAL MADRID AT THE MOMENT?

Füllkrug's stretched effort hits the outside of the post 

They really are riding on luck are Los Blancos, and once again, Courtois was called into action to deny both Adeyemi and Füllkrug. A third chance for die Schwarzgelben in the first half. And the first talking point on 35 minutes. Now, Kobel is down clutching his knee after a challenge from Vinicius Jr, who went a bit too much into the press, by sliding onto the Swiss keeper and catching him on his knee. A yellow card for the 23-year-old Brazilian. Did Vini Jr. get away with the challenge? Should this have been a yellow or a red card challenge? For now, the verdict states: YELLOW CARD. Not a red card. Thankfully, Kobel is ok to continue as we draw into the final few minutes of the first half.

Vini Jr was shown a yellow card for his foul on Kobel on 35 minutes. 

HALF-TIME AT WEMBLEY STADIUM. It remains, goalless between the two sides coming into this game. 3 big chances for Borussia Dortmund, but they failed to convert them, Both chances for their talisman Füllkrug and one for Adeyemi. Are those costly misses going to haunt Borussia Dortmund?

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF

Away we go in the second half of this intriguing UCL final clash!! This time a change of tempo in this half. The first 35 minutes have been all Dortmund, yet they couldn't convert their chances, but now, it's Real Madrid who are creating the chances. Kroos's free kick turned away by Gregor Kobel, before Carvajal headed wide from Kroos's corner. Now we can see the tempo is changing. Real Madrid are starting to make chances, and Dortmund still cannot put them away. Both defences are coming out on top, as well as the attackers. But the main focus shifts to the first goal of the final, arriving on 73 minutes. Also, Marco Reus comes on for his last appearance in a Dortmund shirt. Corner for Real Madrid, what can they produce? IN FROM KROOS, AND HEADER IS INTO THE BACK OF THE NET!!! DANIEL CARVAJAL!!! THE EXPERIENCED VETERAN FULL-BACK HAS HEADED HIS BOYHOOD CLUB IN FRONT WITH ONLY A QUARTER OF AN HOUR TO PLAY!! BRILLIANT SET PIECE PLAY FROM TONI KROOS, AND THIS TIME, CARVAJAL DID NOT MISS THE HEADER. INTO THE BACK OF THE NET, BEYOND THE HELPLESS KOBEL AND HUMMELS. 1-0 TO REAL MADRID, AND BOY DID THEY NEED THAT!! DORTMUND HAVE BEEN PUNISHED FOR NOT TAKING THEIR CHANCES. IT IS BVB 09 0 - RMA 1!!! 

Carvajal's header on 73 minutes, breaks the deadlock for Real Madrid.

What is Borussia Dortmund's answer going to be for this setback? They sub out Julian Brandt and Emre Can to bring on Donyell Malen and Sebastian Haller. Bellingham came close on 74 minutes, but some good defending from Maatsen and Hummels, has won Madrid another corner. The game was eventually closed on 83 minutes. OH NO, MAATSEN HAS GIVEN IT AWAY UNDER NO PRESSURE AND BELLINGHAM INTERCEPTS, SEES VINI JR., TO HIS RIGHT, HE FINDS HIM. AND SURELY NOW, YESSS!!! IT IS VINICIUS JR!!! HE MAKES IT 2-0 TO THE LOS BLANCOS!!! AND NOW, THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS DEFINITELY COMING BACK TO THE WHITE SIDE OF MADRID FOR THE 15TH TIME!! SIMPLE FINISH FROM THE BRAZILIAN AFTER BELLINGHAM TAKES THE BALL FROM MAATSEN! SURELY, THERE IS NO WAY BACK FOR BORUSSIA DORTMUND FROM HERE. BRILLIANT WORK FROM REAL MADRID TO PUNISH THEIR OPPONENTS. THIS IS THE STAGE WHERE THEY LOVE TO WRECK HAVOC ON OTHER TEAMS! BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0 - REAL MADRID 2 WITH ONLY 7 MINUTES TO PLAY!

Vini Jr. sealed the match for Real Madrid after Bellingham won possession on 83 minutes.

Dortmund thought they had one back, but Füllkrug was offside as headed in from Malen's cross. And for one final time, Toni Kroos gets the crowd's applause as he is subbed off with stoppage time set for 5 minutes. AND THAT IS THAT!!! THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE HAS BEEN SOUNDED AT WEMBLEY AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!! REAL MADRID HAVE COMPLETED THE TREBLE!! THEY ARE THE 6TH TEAM IN EUROPEAN HISTORY TO COMPLETE A TREBLE!! CONGRATULATIONS TO REAL MADRID, CARLO ANCELOTTI AND THE PLAYERS FOR ACHIEVING A FEAT THAT NO TEAM HAS EVER DONE!! LA DECIMA!! UCL NUMBER 15 IS COMING TO THE BERNABEU! What incredible scenes here!!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Daniel Carvajal

Everyone would rave about Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo & Joselu, but none of them come closer to this guy!! Dani Carvajal produced, what is the performance of his lifetime! Even though he had a difficult first half haivng to deal with Adeyemi's pace, he was a constant threat to Dortmund's defence from set pieces, which proved to be the difference. Incredible player at the age of 32. Well deserved and congratulations to Carvajal!!

POST-MATCH PICTURES:

Jude Bellingham lifting the UCL trophy in his debut season with Real Madrid.

A heartbroken Jamie Bynoe-Gittens was consoled by his former teammate and countryman Jude Bellingham at full-time, when Real won 2-0.

Former 5-time UCL winner with Real Madrid, Gareth Bale interacts with Bellingham and Alaba

A heartbroken Marco Reus walks without his UCL runners-up medal

The legendary Toni Kroos receiving applause from the Madrid fans in his final club game of his career.