Real Madrid Clinch 15th Champions League Title with Wembley Victory
ICARO Media Group
Real Madrid secured their 15th Champions League title in a historic win against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium. The Spanish giants triumphed with a convincing 2-0 scoreline, further solidifying their status as the most successful club in the competition's history.
Real Madrid's remarkable achievement extends their lead over any other team in Europe, with twice as many European Cups as any other club. Their victory also marked their sixth Champions League title in just ten years, a feat that rivals such as Liverpool and Bayern Munich have not achieved in their entire histories.
Despite Borussia Dortmund's superior expected goals (xG) tally, Real Madrid managed to reign supreme. In the first half, Dortmund had an xG of 1.16 compared to Real Madrid's 0.09. However, Real Madrid staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, registering an xG of 0.70 against Dortmund's 1.05. Two crucial goals, worth 0.11 xG and 0.32 xG respectively, from Dani Carvajal and Vinícius Júnior played a pivotal role in Real Madrid's triumph.
In his final appearance for Real Madrid, Toni Kroos showcased his expertise with a stunning performance. The midfielder completed an impressive 91 out of 94 passes, boasting a remarkable 97% completion rate. One of Kroos's passes resulted in an assist from a corner kick, setting up Carvajal's header. He also created three other chances throughout the match. Antonio Rüdiger was the closest to Kroos in terms of passes completed, with 74, while no Dortmund player surpassed 65 passes.
Dani Carvajal's goal in the final made him the fourth defender in Real Madrid's history to score in a Champions League final. Joining the likes of Marquitos in 1956, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo in 2014 and Ramos once again in 2016, Carvajal's powerful header opened the scoring for Real Madrid at Wembley.
Vinícius Júnior's goal late in the game not only sealed Real Madrid's victory but also marked his second Champions League final goal. The Brazilian forward now joins an illustrious list of players, including Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, and Raúl, who have scored twice on the grandest stage of European football. At just 23 years old, Vinícius has the potential to break records and challenge Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have scored more goals in Champions League finals.
Real Madrid's win at Wembley Stadium signifies the continuation of a golden era for the club. Their dominance in European football throughout the 2014-2024 period now stands equal to that of the renowned 1950s and 1960s, all while facing even more competitive opponents.
Real Madrid's triumph in the Champions League final serves as a testament to their relentless pursuit of excellence and adds yet another chapter to their rich history in European competition.