Few teams have faced down Real Madrid in a Champions League final with as much conviction as Borussia Dortmund displayed at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.
In the end, however, the result was the same as it always is.
Despite suffering and defending for the vast majority of the final, clinging on for dear life at times, Real Madrid will leave London with a record-extending 15th European Cup after late goals from Dani Carvajal and VinÃcius Júnior earned Los Blancos a 2-0 win and broke Dortmund hearts.
It was a particularly cruel end for Dortmund defender Ian Maatsen, who needlessly gave away the corner for Carvajal’s header before gifting Real possession for VinÃcius’ goal just minutes later.
After a night of mostly toil, it was once again Real celebrating at the full-time whistle in a Champions League final, the fans in a wall of white serenading their unbeatable team.
Not since losing 1-0 to Liverpool in 1981 has Real been defeated in a European Cup final, now a run of nine successive victories that have spanned 43 years and taken the club’s total tally to 15 – more than twice the amount second-placed AC Milan have racked up.
