Real Madrid were crowned the European champions for the 14th time in an incredible final of the 2022 League of Champions held in Paris on May 28, defeating Liverpool with a 1-0 victory.
Paris secured a victory in the Liga La match, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side following up with triumph. Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper, ensured their success with an outstanding performance, earning him the title of man of the match. Vinicius Junior scored the second-half goal.
There was plenty of discussion and controversy in the weeks and days that followed, regarding the debatable decisions made by VAR. However, there was concern among the crowd prior to kickoff, after a night of controversy.
The final route to the Champions League trophy was always going to be challenging for Liverpool, but they will still feel unlucky not to have taken their chances in what was a chaotic and unpredictable night in the French capital. They had already overcome Manchester City, PSG, and Chelsea, proving themselves deserving of lifting the trophy.
The soccer match eventually began after an inopportune opening ceremony show by vocalist Camila Cabello, followed by a 38-minute postponement to start the game because supporters encountered difficulties entering the Stade de France.
MORE: What caused the delay in the kickoff time for Liverpool vs Real Madrid?
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Both teams started the game cautiously, with a cagey opening quarter of an hour. In the first few minutes, Mo Salah made a sudden move towards the goal, but his effort was blocked by Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The reaction from the crowd was intense as they witnessed the close-range attempt. The striker’s shot came after a well-executed cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
In the build-up to the clash on May 28th, much of Liverpool’s focus was on coming up against goalkeeper Courtois, who had been in top form and had a bit of luck on his side. Moments later, Mane tried his luck with a goal-bound shot, hammering the ball towards the edge of the box, only for Courtois to stretch out and make a full-stretch save.
From within the penalty area, he once again struck it into the net as the ball dropped to Benzema’s feet, only for a weak Liverpool clearance to cause him to botch his attempt, after initially controlling the ball and teasing Alisson. Karim Benzema, Madrid’s standout player at the moment, had hardly been involved in the first half, but in the 42nd minute, he demonstrated the exact danger he poses.
Liverpool let out a sigh of relief as the whistle blew for half-time. The Frenchman’s offside position was confirmed, meaning that the call on Fabinho’s touch, which was upheld on the field, was not deemed deliberate. After a lengthy VAR review, the offside decision stood.
MORE: What was the reason for disallowing Benzema’s goal in the Champions League final?
Liverpool started the second half with the same intention, as Carvajal heroically defended Diaz’s diving header, managing to cut out Alexander-Arnold’s pinpoint cross.
In the 59th minute, Vinicius was chosen to send the fans into a frenzy as he spotted Federico Valverde on the right side. With pinpoint accuracy, Vinicius delivered the ball to Valverde, who found himself in open space near the back post. This play resulted in Madrid taking the lead against the run of play.
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This team, who came from behind to win each of their final three Premier League games, was not going down without a fight. Effort forced Courtois to make a smart save from a curled pull off by Salah, once again in the 65th minute, before Jota Diogo was introduced for Diaz shortly after.
Klopp’s bench was filled with more attacking options as Salah, the star of Egypt, was once again denied by Courtois, the hero of the hour, with a brilliant reaction stop, pushing his right-footed strike from a tight angle away from the top corner. However, Naby Ketia’s effort from outside the box was wasteful.
In their European history textbooks, Madrid once more penned another splendid chapter as the 19-year-old remained resolute in safeguarding the advantage. Similar to earlier stages, Ancelotti summoned Eduardo Camavinga, who has frequently been brought in to reverse the situation for Los Blancos.
Jurgen Klopp’s response to the Champions League final
Klopp expressed his disappointment, saying, “Maybe we need a few more hours for that. Nobody feels that it was a great season, in the dressing room.”
“The two decisions that went against us were by the narrowest margins imaginable.
I don’t think it’s possible to have a deep formation with an opponent. I believe a game can’t be perfect. We played a good game, but it wasn’t perfect.
“That’s all, Vinicius was present, Valverde desired to fire. We allowed a goal from a throw-in. Courtois executed two excellent rescues. Not the most evident, but we had numerous attempts.”
We should have played them around more than we did. We played them around in the first half. We said what’s that at half-time. We wanted to be braver in the second half. It’s because they are a threat with counter-attacks. We had too deep midfielders. The boys tried everything, especially when we were down 1-0.
“It’s not the desired achievement. It’s a certain type of accomplishment. Reaching the final is not unfavorable. The sensation is distinct.”
In the upcoming season, we will be blessed with an exceptional team. Collectively, it is an exceptional group. The boys are truly competitive. Once again, we will approach the games with a strong sense of confidence.
“Where will it be next season? Istanbul? Reserve the hotel.”
Carlo Ancelotti’s response to the Champions League final
At the end, we think we deserved to win this competition. We suffered a lot more in the first half, and it was a difficult game. The Italian BT sportscaster told us, “We really did well.” We had a fantastic season. I can’t believe it.
“We’re extremely delighted. What can I express? I can’t elaborate further.
“The campaign was exceptional. An incredible team, a truly impressive roster with a great deal of skill and mental fortitude. I was fortunate to join this place in the previous year and experience an outstanding season. I am a record holder.”
I think we really struggled through the games. The supporters helped us a lot in the last game. They assisted us tonight. They are happy and content.
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“And we emerged victorious, we were able to achieve the victory that we firmly believe in and the power that we possess, the energy that we had until the very end,” he stated while speaking to CBS. “I have a fantastic team consisting of both talented young players and highly experienced players, making it an incredible squad.”
