Real Madrid's Kroos celebrates after their 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium (Photo: Mustafa Yalçin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Real Madrid are favourites to reach the Champions League final after beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on Saturday to clinch their 15th Champions League title.
Madrid have won the title six times in the past 11 years, while Dortmund were bidding for just the second time in the club's history.
Dortmund looked the better team throughout the first half, having more possession in Madrid's half and creating multiple chances to score, but Madrid were unable to concede any goals and the game went into the halftime break tied at 0-0.
Madrid tried a tactical change early in the second half, winning a free kick with Vinicius Junior heading towards goal, but Toni Kroos' shot headed towards the top left corner and was tapped out by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
This was the start of Madrid taking control and playing more attackingly. With 73 minutes and 30 seconds left, Dani Carvajal headed in a goal from Kroos' corner, past Kobel to make it 1-0. It was Carvajal's sixth goal of the season but his first in the Champions League and it clearly came at the perfect time for Madrid.
Soon after, Vinicius took a pass from Jude Bellingham and slotted it in for a 2-0 lead at 82:10. Bellingham easily intercepted a cross from Ian Maatsen, and Vinicius broke free and scored, his 24th goal of the season.
Dortmund dominated the first half but failed to score.
Dortmund missed a number of chances to score midway through the first half, the best of which may have been Niklas Füllkrug's shot which went past Thibaut Courtois and hit the post.
Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt also had good chances to score but their efforts were either blocked by defenders or their kicks went wide of the goal.
The first half seemed to be dominated by the Madrid side, but Dortmund were unable to break through.
With Madrid keeping the game scoreless, Vinicius Junior had a chance in the 43rd minute as he made a run down the left wing, but Mats Hummels pushed him aside and lost the ball with a sliding tackle.
Fans had no time for pre-match entertainment
One issue that fans of both clubs and virtually everyone watching in the stadium and on television agreed on was that rock singer Lenny Kravitz performing on the field just before kick-off was unnecessary.
Kravitz delivered a stellar performance, mixing hits like “Fly Away” and “Are You Gonna Go My Way” with songs from his new album, “Blue Electric Light,” but there were no fans in the audience, especially when Yellow Wall sang “You'll Never Walk Alone.” He seemed impressed.I can't wait for the UCL final to start.
Dortmund fans were ultimately thrilled by their club's strong first half, but Madrid's momentum and penetration in the second half was further disappointing after three missed scoring chances.
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it's over!
Real Madrid are European champions for the 15th time, more than twice as many as any other club.
They have won the title six times in the last 11 years – only one other club has won it more than six times. throughout the contest's 70-year history.
Dortmund pushed hard in the first half but lacked quality, and in the end, the inevitable outcome was exactly that – an inevitable outcome.
Toni Kroos: the legend
He was substituted in the 84th minute and left the pitch shaking his fist at the Real Madrid fans as if the game had already been won, which it had. real madrid.
What a fantastic career it was, and he capped it off with a trademark pinpoint corner kick that sealed the final.
Madrid executed the exact same set piece at least three times from a corner on the left wing – a near-post pass to Nacho and Dani Carvajal – and all three times the header was on or near the goal, and Dortmund couldn't stop it because Kroos' passing was so precise.
Fürkrug scores but is offside
Real Madrid are in every possible position to win the Champions League final. It's incredible.
It's still 2-0 with two minutes plus injury time remaining.
2-0! Vini!
Game, set, match.
Vinicius Jr. punishes Dortmund for their carelessness.
Jude Bellingham received the gift, passed to Vini and then a sloppy finish all but sealed Real Madrid's 15th European title.
Vini dances and the celebration begins.
Dani Carvajal, the most unexpected goal scorer
Of the 20 outfield players on the pitch, could there have been a more unexpected goalscorer?!?
Carvajal, the 32-year-old full-back, who will be playing in his sixth Champions League final today, has only scored one goal in his 86 Champions League appearances.
At 5 feet 8 inches tall, he is also one of the shortest players on the field.
And maybe he won the final with a header from a corner!
Dani Carvajal's goal!
His second Champions League goal in his long career with Real Madrid!
What a wonderful moment!
Real Madrid won 1-0.
First substitution: Marco Reus
Adeyemi will be replaced by Dortmund legend Marco Reus.
It will be his final game for his boyhood club, with the 35-year-old set to leave the club at the end of the season.
What a story it would be if he could score…
Real Madrid's chances
A trademark run from Bellingham. A great cross from Vini. But Bellingham, not at 100% physically, seemed to retreat from an aerial duel as Kobel burst from his goal-line and neither man actually made contact.
71 minutes, still 0-0.
A powerful save from Courtois
Niklas Füllkrug fired a powerful header at Thibaut Courtois, who made an easy save, but if the header had been a foot or two to the left or right it would have been a very difficult save.
Wembley atmosphere:
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 1: A panoramic view of the inside of the stadium as Borussia Dortmund fans use red flares during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium in London, England on June 1, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pearce/Getty Images)
Real Madrid calmed down
Favorites Dominant Not yet. But they made some clean plays and had some chances. Very different from the first half.
But we are still waiting for a breakthrough on either side.
Toni Kroos tests Kobel
Vinicius Junior led the break at about 1.5 to 7. He cleverly delayed and, after a slight misdirection, won a free kick.
Kroos took a free kick towards the top corner, but Gregor Kobel deflected it away.
0-0, 50 minutes.
The second half begins
There are no personnel changes. But there must be. Several It's something of a change for Real Madrid.
Halftime: 0-0
Dortmund were clearly the better team over those 45 minutes. The rough xG (expected goals) figures were incredibly, and surprisingly, one-sided: Dortmund 1.7, Real Madrid 0.1
However, despite the star-studded Real Madrid side, Dortmund were unable to capitalise on the chances they created.
A tense and fascinating second half awaits.
Dortmund crushes Real Madrid
Adeyemi and Furkrug are close again.
Dortmund launched a 6 vs 3 counter attack after a Real Madrid corner kick.
Only one team looks likely to score.
But history tells us that Real Madrid have Dortmund exactly where they want to be.
Madrid has sleepwalked through Champions League matches many times and, somehow, aura Save them.
One example is the final match two years ago. If you're interested, read it at halftime.
