Real Madrid and the Champions League title…an exceptional relationship sports

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Spanish Real Madrid confirmed its undisputed dominance of the Champions League after winning its 15th title yesterday in its history after defeating German Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley Stadium in the final of the competition.

“Football is a simple game. 22 players chase the ball for 90 minutes and in the end the Germans win.”

This famous saying was made by former England striker Gary Lineker after his country’s loss on penalties to West Germany in the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, and it applies very much to Real Madrid at the club level after winning the 15th title in its career.

The Spanish capital team was always on time in the continental final and did not lose in the last 9 consecutive final matches in the Champions League, an unprecedented achievement.

The Royal Club’s last loss in the final of the competition dates back to when it fell to Liverpool 0-1 with a goal by Alan Kennedy in 1981, when the competition was called the European Club Champions Cup.

The Royal Club played in the final match 18 times, during which it lost only 3 times, to Benfica of Portugal 3-5 in the 1961-1962 season, to Inter of Italy 1-3 in the 1963-1964 season, and to Liverpool in the 1980-1981 season.

An exceptional relationship

Real Madrid has forged an exceptional relationship with the Continental Cup since its inception in 1956, when it won the first five editions with the presence of star players in its ranks, such as Hungarian Ferenc Puskas, Argentine-Spanish Alfred Di Stéfano, and Frenchman Raymond Kopa, and he had tours and tours in it.

His most notable victory was his massive victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany, 7-3, in 1960, in a historic match that is still the highest-scoring match in the history of continental finals.

Thanks to its 15th title, “Merengue” is far ahead of its closest competitor, Milan (7 titles), then both Bayern Munich of Germany and Liverpool of England, with 6 titles.

does not give up

Real Madrid never gives up in finals, as it was on the verge of losing in the 2014 final to its neighbor in the capital, Atletico Madrid, which led until the last minute before its defenseman, Sergio Ramos, equalized at the last breath and forced an extension, which Real Madrid won 4-1. .

In the last two final matches, he was not the best for long periods of time, as Liverpool outperformed him in 2022 for about an hour before Brazilian Vinicius Junior scored the only goal of the match.

And against Dortmund yesterday, the German team was the better side, especially in the first half, and its players missed a huge number of opportunities, but Real Madrid maintained its calm and succeeded in settling the result in the last quarter of an hour with two goals from its defender Dani Carvajal and its striker Vinicius Junior.

Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti summarized his team’s ability to always overcome difficulties by saying: “Resistance and then victory. It is a history and a tradition that has accompanied the club for a long time.”

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