The only thing he didn’t do was kick the ball in himself. Thibaut Courtois is the great editor of Real Madrid’s fourteenth Champions League victory. He drove Liverpool to despair. The English scored more than 20 times on target, but Courtois took everything. Real Madrid kicked twice on goal and won.
Liverpool had the upper hand throughout the game. Real Madrid played as we know it by now. From a very tight organization and looking for those individual actions that always come through Vinicius Jr. or Benzema. It took 40 minutes before a first action came out. Then it was hit. Benzema scored. Only the VAR had seen a preliminary offside.
We got Belgian situations in the final of the Champions League. It also took an excruciatingly long time – about three minutes – before the VAR made the decision. He opted for offside, although Fabinho played the ball to Benzema as the opponent and last. The discussion about conscious or unconscious is endless.
The second time Real Madrid crossed the halfway line, it was hit again. That was just before the hour. And it was valid this time. Valverde fired a cross/shot and Vinicius Jr. pushed in. The better Liverpool had to step up a gear and they did. But Salah also found Courtois on his way three times in that period. From afar, from a little closer and from very close. He also managed to control a shot that had been deflected by Diogo Jota. Whatever UEFA would make of it, Courtois was the man of this final. Great sir, because in the first half our compatriot was also very strong on attempts by Salah, from three meters, and Mané, from nine meters. Impressive how he first went quickly to the ground and then pushed Mané’s bullet against the post.
Liverpool better
Real Madrid won another match that they couldn’t actually win. Static the Real players were all in position, making it difficult for Liverpool to break through. But it can be more, right? We already wrote that during the home games against PSG, Chelsea and Man City, and Real Madrid won every time. So why change? Because one day Thibaut Courtois cannot keep all the balls out of his goal.
Photo: REUTERS
The English were better, tried much more to look for the target of the opponent. Fabinho reigned in midfield. Alexander-Arnold was very strong, offensively and defensively. As a right back, he is not afraid to join the game. At the back, Konaté ruled alongside Van Dijk. Mane was the most dangerous Liverpool striker, Salah’s dribbling failed to materialize. At Real Madrid it was longer to look for stars after Courtois. Benzema was good when he had the ball and Militao distinguished himself as the best defender. And Vinicius scored again. That’s how you win the Champions League.
