Second-half goals from Dani Carvajal and Carlos Vinicius Junior secured a 15th Champions League title for Real Madrid, following a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.
Carvajal nodded in from Toni Kroos’ 74th minute corner-kick to put the record title-holders ahead, in a match which was disrupted by pitch invaders in the opening minutes.
Vinicius Junior fired in their second goal in the 83rd minute from Jude Bellingham’s pass to wrap up a record-extending 15th title for Real in this competition.
Speaking to TNT Sports post-match, Bellingham was proud to have achieved Champions League success against his former team, from whom he moved to Real last summer.
“I have always dreamed of playing in these games,” commented Bellingham. “You go through life and there are so many people who say you cannot do things. I was alright until I was in my mum and dad’s face.
“My little brother is there and I’m trying to be a role model for him. I cannot put it into words. The best night of my life.”
Following a massive police operation pre-match by Met Police ahead of the final, the opening minutes were disrupted by protestors invading the pitch which resulted in a sluggish start once properly underway.
Real soon had the first proper chance as Federico Valverde cut in from the right in the 12th minute, but he could only fire over the bar.
Dortmund meanwhile were widely considered as underdogs but actually looked the more confident as Julian Brandt two minutes later fired wide of the bottom-right corner, having picked up Niclas Fullkrug’s layoff pass.
Karim Adeyemi wasted a huge chance to put Dortmund ahead from a 21st minute through-ball, which saw him freeze in indecision when one-on-one against Thibaut Courtois, which saw him cut to the left and his shot eventually blocked.
Chelsea loanee, Ian Maatsen then fed a pass through for Fullkrug whose shot unluckily ricocheted off the right post, as Dortmund continued to steadily pressure Real’s defence which hadn’t kept a clean sheet in their last five Champions League matches.
Courtois spared Real’s blushes in the 41st minute with a stunning punch to divert Fullkrug’s low shot wide, but Real clung on until half-time with the score goalless despite Dortmund’s late first-half dominance.
Real though managed to create the first proper chance of the second half in which Kroos’ 49th minute free-kick was blocked by Gregor Kobel, before Carvajal’s headed over the bar from the subsequent corner.
Those scares didn’t faze Dortmund as Adeyemi’s 51st minute shot was deflected over, whilst Courtois blocked Fullkrug’s 63rd minute header.
Their wasteful finishing eventually was punished 11 minutes later as Real won a corner which Kroos whipped in for Carvajal to nod into the far-right corner to put the record title-holders in front.
Each of the last four Champions League finals had been settled by a 1-0 result and Real almost ended that streak in the 77th minute, only for Bellingham’s shot to be deflected wide of the right corner by Nico Schlotterbeck’s tackle.
Dortmund soon found themselves defending more as Eduardo Camavinga’s 81st minute strike forced a punch behind goal from Kobel.
Real eventually wrapped up their 15th title two minutes later after Bellingham fed a pass across for Vinicius Jr. to calmly fire in to deliver their second goal, which in-turn ended Dortmund’s title dreams.
Fullkrug briefly offered hope of a late fightback for Dortmund after he headed in a consolatory goal in the 88th minute, but the goal was disallowed after he was adjudged offside.
Real eventually saw the game out to secure their 15th title in this competition which also marked their third Champions League crown under manager, Carlo Ancelotti – having previously won 2013-14 & 21-22 editions under the Italian’s watch.
Their victory also completed a treble for Real who also won La Liga and Supercopa de Espana titles this season, with only a Round of 16 defeat to neighbours – Atletico Madrid denying them a potential quadruple.
Dortmund meanwhile have lost two Champions League Finals played at Wembley despite keeping clean sheets in the first half on both occasions, having previously lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich in the 2012-13 Final.
Teams
Borussia Dortmund – Gregor Kobel, Julian Ryerson, Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck, Ian Maatsen, Emre Can (Malen 80′), Marcel Sabitzer, Julian Brandt (Haller 80′), Niclas Fullkrug, Jadon Sancho, Karim Adeyemi (Reus 72′)
Substitutes: Alexander Meyer, Marcel Lotka, Salih Ozcan, Felix Nmecha, Sebastien Haller, Marco Reus, Marius Wolf, Youssoufa Moukoko, Donyell Malen, Niklas Sule, Kjell Watjen, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
Real Madrid – Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Nacho, Ferland Mendy, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos (Modric 86′), Jude Bellingham (Joselu 85′), Rodrygo (Militao 90′), Carlos Vinicius Junior
Substitutes: Andriy Lunin, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Luka Modric, Joselu, Lucas Vazquez, Aurelién Tchouameni, Dani Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Brahim Diaz, Arda Guler
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