The ‘King’ wins a best of Paris award
Real Madrid wins its fourteenth European Cup after beating Liverpool 0-1 with a huge Courtois
PARIS, May 29. (from the Europa Press special envoy, Ramón Chamorro) –
Real Madrid was proclaimed champion of Europe this Saturday for the fourteenth time in its history after defeating English Liverpool 1-0 in the final of the Champions League held at the Stade de France, a rival that enjoyed the best chances and who collided with a huge Thibaut Courtois and the idyll that the Madrid team has with this competition.
The ‘King of Europe’ applied his condition to the applicant and once again made it clear that, beyond Super League projects, his story expands on the European Cup, the old one or the ‘newer’ one. Last week he was somewhat upset with the failed signing of Kylian Mbappé, but from the striker’s city he surely took a better prize.
Fourteen ‘Orejonas’ already, double that of his pursuer, still Milan, and nine players from his current squad already with five, the same as Cristiano Ronaldo, and less ‘Mr. Champions’, an honor that now passes to Carlo Ancelotti, a record for coaches with four. A premiere for Courtois, hero of the Parisian night, like last February, and vital with his saves when the six-time champion pushed harder, although he will have to share that honor with Vinicius Jr, scorer of the winning goal.
A title that confirms the fourth double in League-European Cup history and closes a successful season that not too many counted on, but which was forged in Europe based on epic and suffering. This time no comeback or late goals were needed, it seemed enough for him to know the formula to win continental finals like no one else and overcome a match where he suffered a lot at times.
The start of the game, delayed for more than half an hour due to problems outside the stadium with the entry of supporters, was complicated for the merengue team. Liverpool, with Thiago in eleven, was faithful to his style and cornered his rival with his pressure, deprived of the ball and having no connection with Benzema, Vinicius and Modric. The duel was ‘red’, but the barrage in terms of occasions not so much.
Mané was vital in this start, appearing on all sides and making things very difficult for the Madrid defense. On the other hand, the Senegalese, who connected very well with Thiago, was unable to have the support of either Salah or Luis Díaz, who was very well supported by a powerful Carvajal, who made a great display on both sides.
Even so, it was the Egyptian who launched the first two threats, above all a difficult shot near the small area after a good action from Alexander-Arnold, replicated with a good hand from Courtois. Mané had better minutes later, but his great shot found a better response from the Belgian, whose stretch sent the ball to the post.
From then on, thanks to the work of Kroos, Real Madrid began to catch their breath. The German did not burn the ball and Modric grew up with him. The clash was balanced, they also began to play in the vicinity of Karius, which helped Benzema and Vinicius. The Frenchman had the best chance after a great pass from Alaba, but he was unable to solve it with his cold blood and although he later ended up sending the ball into the net, a long wait in the VAR to see if the ball came from an opponent or not , canceled it.
COURTOIS MAKES VINICIUS’ GOAL GOLDEN
After the break, another match was played, more extension of what had been the final stretch of the first 45 minutes. Real Madrid felt more comfortable, controlled their pace better, helped by correcting the imbalances that Mané created for them, with good anticipation actions by Casemiro, and because Liverpool didn’t have as much momentum either.
Little by little, with more space to be able to connect with his best players and the ball was more his. Juergen Klopp’s men were still trying to be the ones who took the most advantage of the transitions, with a Salah who improved his performance in the first half and was the most in danger and only Courtois’s night prevented his revenge.
And Real Madrid was the one who struck first. Modric kneaded the ball and led a play down the right that ended with a ride by Valverde behind Robertson’s back. The Uruguayan entered the area and hit hard and although he did not find a goal, Vinicius’ brilliant appearance did make it 1-0 before game time.
The goal aroused Liverpool, who had no choice but to launch without excessive consideration towards Courtois, who was then when he responded in a way that could earn him individual awards greater than the ‘MVP’ of the match. The Belgian made Salah’s night bitter with a sensational hand, a high-level start to cover and, above all, an anthological save after an exceptional control by the Egyptian who did not know what to do now to achieve the tie.
The English team did not give up and continued to test it anyway and with all their offensive arsenal, but they faced a Real Madrid team that demonstrated the reason for their ability to survive in Europe. He failed to sentence in a couple of very clear counterattacks, but the rush did not help Klopp’s men and the ‘King’ smiled.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: LIVERPOOL, 0 – REAL MADRID, 1 (0-0, at halftime)
–ALIGNMENTS.
LIVERPOOL: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konaté, Robertson; Thiago (Firmino, min.77), Fabinho, Henderson (Keita, min.77); Salah, Mané and Luis Díaz (Diogo Jota, min.65).
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde (Camavinga, min.86), Casemiro, Kroos, Modric (Ceballos, min.90); Vinicius (Rodrygo, min.91) and Benzema.
–GOL:
0-1, min.59, Vinicius.
–REFEREE: Clement Turpin (FRA). He admonished Fabinho (min. 62), for Liverpool.
–STADIO: Saint-Dennis.