…beats Atletico 4-1
Gareth Bale’s goal in the 110th minute gave Real Madrid the victory over Atlético Madrid, and more importantly, their 10th European Cup.
Real Madrid were less than two minutes from failing in their bid to become the first team to win 10 European Cups.
Then Sergio Ramos came to the rescue in stoppage time, forcing an extra 30 minutes, where Gareth Bale became the hero with a winner in the 110th minute.
Los Blancos overcame a mistake by Iker Casillas that led to Atletico’s goal, and a superb team defensive performance by Los Colchoneros to pull off the victory in Lisbon.
The 4-1 final score was hardly a fair representation of the match, as Real Madrid pulled away in extra time, thanks to a goal from Marcelo and penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Diego Costa surprised everyone by starting the match, but his presence on the pitch lasted just nine minutes as the striker was subbed off for Adrian.
Costa didn’t stop to talk to anyone, running straight off the pitch and down the tunnel.
It was the most notable occurrence in the opening 10 minutes of the match, which featured plenty of tight and physical play.
Real Madrid’s first real chance of the match came in the 23rd minute after Ángel di María was brought down on the left wing, a few yards out from the Atletico box.
Luka Modrić’s curling free kick appeared to make Thibault Courtois freeze for a moment before the Atléti keeper went up and grabbed the ball.
The physicality continued to ramp up as the first half went on, threatening to boil over in the 27th minute when Raúl García was shown a yellow card after committing a hard tackle from behind on Di María.
Sergio Ramos, in his infinite wisdom, ran up and got into García’s face, earning a yellow card for the Real defender.
Tiago Mendes nearly gifted Real Madrid the opening goal after making an atrocious turnover in the midfield that allowed Gareth Bale to race in on Courtois.
Bale somehow managed to push his shot wide off the post, despite looking like he was sure to put his side in front.
Then it all went wrong for Real Madrid on a corner kick in the 36th minute.
Koke’s initial corner was cleared out of the box, but Juanfran put it right back into the mixer, where Iker Casillas had gotten himself stuck in no man’s land, a good five yards off his line.
Diego Godín, the hero of last week’s match against Barcelona, got his head on the ball and lobbed it over Casillas.
Despite a desperate scramble by the goalkeeper to swat the ball off the line, he wasn’t quick enough, and Atléti took a 1-0 lead.
Casillas clearly believed that he would be able to either grab or punch away Juanfran’s header, but by the time he realized that he wouldn’t be able to make a play, it was too late.
Di María again made a nuisance of himself, drawing a dangerous free kick opportunity for Real Madrid in the 52nd minute.
Ronaldo took his time lining up his shot, got it up and over the wall, but was denied by the very tall man named Thibault Courtois in Atletico’s goal.
Ronaldo got another chance on the ensuing corner kick, but his shot from short range was deflected wide.
Los Blancos simply couldn’t solve Atléti’s brilliantly stubborn defence.
At least until the third minute of stoppage time.
Trending
- Traditional ruler shot dead inside palace
- Primate Ayodele to Yoruba Nation agitators: You can’t break Nigeria
- Police intercept bags of Indian Hemp at Lagos jetty
- Enugu, families to give Ibu, Junior Pope befitting burial
- Police arrest suspects for attempting to disrupt inauguration of commissioners
- Police rescue three children locked up by grandmother + Photo
- Police foil attack in Katsina, neutralise suspected bandit
- US vetoes Palestine’s request for full UN membership