With that, Real Madrid improved its own record in the number of titles in the most prestigious European Cups. Wholesale Spanish title stands with 14 trophies. This year’s win was the first since the 2017/18 season, when Real won the title for the third time in a row.

Even then, it was Liverpool who were beaten. The English club had hopes of revenge, mastering the court game, but never managed to outsmart Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper is a giant.

– Today no one can stop me. “I have to win the Champions League no matter what,” Courtois said after the game.

– I’m very proud of the team. We got together and when I had to step forward, I did it for the team. “We have beaten some of the best teams in the world,” said the goalkeeper.

He was praised by the legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“Incredible, I could hardly believe it,” the Real coach said of his goalkeeper.

“In the end, we deserved to win this tournament,” said Ancelotti.

Vinicius decided

The other match winner was not Karim Benzema, as many imagine. He had a goal canceled out for offside, but the winning goal was Vinicius Junior who scored in a superb counter-attack after 59 minutes.

Real Madrid have now won half of the last ten Champions League finals and appear to be clutching the grip on club football’s main trophy.

Liverpool have recently struggled to win four trophies. But it ended in FA Cup and League Cup wins. For Real, it was a win in the draw and the Champions League.

Saturday’s final was marked by chaos in Paris. The start of the match was delayed for 36 minutes due to the chaotic atmosphere outside the Stade de France. Police used tear gas and pepper spray on fans, several videos were published in the media and on Twitter.

Liverpool takes command

Liverpool, as expected, were the front-runner from the start, led by Mohamed Salah looking to take revenge for the bitter final in 2018 when he was injured.

After a quarter of an hour, Trent Alexander Arnold dribbled onto the pitch and put Salah in from five yards. Courtois threw himself gently and was able to avoid the finish that fell in the opposite corner.

Then narrowed right in from Sadio Mané after 20 minutes. He dribbled well onto the pitch and clinked from 16 yards. His shot was well-placed and hard, but Courtois went down in the corner and hit the post with another class save.

Real Madrid have played away from home to several Champions League games this season. But with Karim Benzema as the guarantor of goals, the big club continued to struggle.

Benzema and the VAR drama

After less than half an hour, Benzema made his first move in a final. The post against him was taken by Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal.

Just before the break he resumed his journey. The Frenchman played, but never managed to finish. After a bit of back and forth where Liverpool’s players got in the way of each other on the pitch, he got the ball and put it in the net.

It was waved for offside. The situation is unclear and should be checked by VAR. The referee ruled that Benzema was in an offside position when he got the ball last time.

“Liverpool controlled the game for 40 minutes but as soon as Real Madrid started hitting the ball behind the defence, they created problems,” said Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard at half-time.

Real Toxic Counterattack

The second half started as the first. Liverpool regained command, without many very good chances. After less than an hour of play, they asked for a penalty after a shot from Salah, but the referee said no.

Shortly after, Real Madrid showed why they are one of the most dangerous teams in the world to play for. Opponents can control the match. Then came the counterattack. Vinicius Junior sneaked into the back post and directed Federico Valverde’s pass into the net.

This time the goal remains. Real Madrid had lost game after game in the playoffs, but moved on. Now they are the ones leading first.

Consecutive class rescue

Shortly after, Salah tried again. Once again, Courtois made a class save. The same thing happened when Salah had to finish from a distance of just meters after 70 minutes. Courtois did a foot parade and blocked it.

Liverpool pressed in the hunt for an equaliser, but never managed to outsmart the Belgian. Even when Salah found himself free after 83 minutes. His shot was good and hard, but Courtois’ ball went over the post. The Real Madrid defenders threw themselves at him with delight.

Real Madrid can no doubt thank Courtois for the club’s 14th European win.