Brave Dortmund succumb to Madrid late show

Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Real Madrid
Goals: 0-1 Carvajal 74' (assist: Kroos) 0-2 Vinícius Jr 83' (assist: Bellingham)

Once You’ll Never Walk Alone and Hala Madrid had simmered down, it was clearly the BVB anthem that had the biggest effect with the Bundesliga side by far the best team of the first half. The early warnings were there for Real and then their defence was finally breached in the 21st minute when Mats Hummels played an absolutely glorious pass through Los Blancos’ midfield and defence, finding Karim Adeyemi through on goal. The winger collected the ball, rounded Thibaut Courtois, but just overdid things and saw a huge chance go to waste. Two minutes later, with Real still shaking, Ian Maatsen turned provider, prodding through for Niclas Füllkrug. The Germany international improvised brilliantly to get his shot away, but hit the post, with the ball bouncing agonisingly across the six-yard box. While everyone expected the record winners to settle, Dortmund kept going, continually finding space down the wings. Adeyemi tested Courtois minutes later, and then with four minutes to play in the opening period Marcel Sabitzer forced the Belgian into a crucial long-range stop. The opening 45 minutes ended 8-2 in terms of shots, and for once in a major final, Real looked worried.

After an uncharacteristically poor first-half, Madrid started the second with their first shot on target, and it was the familiar figure of Toni Kroos whipping a free-kick straight towards the top corner in his final club game. Unfortunately for him, there was Gregor Kobel to take flight and tip it around the post. Madrid started to settle, but their spells of possession were punctuated by Füllkrug flying through the air like a battering ram to blast a header at Courtois. Again, the Belgian was up to it, but had to palm the effort away. Madrid recovered well though, and after troubling Dortmund once with a smart corner routine, the second time it paid off. Kroos found Dani Carvajal and the flying full-back out-jumped Füllkrug to nod-in the game’s opening goal. As quickly as they had one, it was nearly two, Eduardo Camavinga found Jude Bellingham in the box, and the Englishman spared his former side by dribbling a shot just wide. Kroos and Camavinga then tried their luck from range, but Kobel kept his side in the match for the final 10 minutes with a trio of stellar stops. That potential platform was destroyed in the 83rd minute, though, with a Maatsen pass inside collected by Bellingham, who shifted to Vinicius Jr and it was game over.

Match stats

• Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Nacho, Lucas Vazquez and Dani Carvajal have joined club legend Paco Gento with six European Cups, the most of all time.
• With Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho both playing, this was the first time two Englishmen had faced off in a European Cup final for non-English sides.
• Reus is one surviving member of the team that lost to Bayern at Wembley 11 years ago. He made his 430th and final appearance for the club.
• Vinicius has been involved in 22 goals in the Champions League knockout stages, only Lionel Messi has as many before turning 24.

Teams

Dortmund: Kobel - Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen - Sabitzer, Can (c) (Malen 80') - Sancho (Bynoe-Gittens 87'), Brandt (Haller 80'), Adeyemi (Reus 72') - Füllkrug
Unused subs: Meyer, Lotka, Özcan, Nmecha, Wolf, Moukoko, Süle, Wätjen
Out: Bensebaini (knee), Duranville (muscular), Morey (cold)
Coach: Edin Terzić

Real Madrid: Courtois - Carvajal, Rüdiger, Nacho (c), Mendy - Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos (Modrić 85') - Bellingham (Joselu 85') - Rodrygo (Militão 90'), Vinícius (Lucas Vázquez 90+4')
Unused subs: Lunin, Kepa, Alaba, Ceballos, Fran García, Brahim, Arda Güler
Out: Alaba (knee), Tchouaméni (foot)  
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

As it happened ...