Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : London, England – Real Madrid have once again proven their almost mythical dominance in European football, clinching their record-extending 15th Champions League title with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over a valiant but heartbroken Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.
The final scoreline, however, tells only half the story of a dramatic night. For the first hour, an electric and aggressive Borussia Dortmund side completely outplayed the Spanish giants. Wave after wave of yellow and black attacks left Madrid looking rattled and vulnerable. Dortmund striker Karim Adeyemi rounded goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois but took the ball too wide, while Niclas Füllkrug came agonizingly close, striking the inside of the post. The German side went into halftime wondering how they weren't comfortably ahead.
But this is Real Madrid in a Champions League final. They bend, but they rarely break.
After weathering the storm, the game turned on its head in the second half. As Dortmund's intensity waned, Madrid's experience and clinical precision came to the fore. The breakthrough arrived in the 74th minute from the most unlikely of sources. In his final club match, Toni Kroos delivered a perfect corner, and the 5-foot-8-inch full-back Dani Carvajal soared to head the ball into the net, sending the Madrid supporters into a frenzy.
The goal broke Dortmund's spirit. Just nine minutes later, a costly mistake from Dortmund's Ian Maatsen saw him pass the ball directly to Jude Bellingham, who coolly laid it off for Vinícius Júnior. The Brazilian star made no mistake, slotting the ball home to seal the victory and ignite the celebrations.
The win marks a perfect farewell for the legendary Toni Kroos and a record fifth Champions League title for manager Carlo Ancelotti. For Borussia Dortmund, it was a cruel case of déjà vu, ending their fairytale run with a devastating loss at the same venue as their 2013 final defeat.
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