Match ends, Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1.
LiverpoolLiverpool0Real MadridReal Madrid1
Liverpool's bid to claim the Champions League trophy for the seventh time ended in bitter disappointment as Vinicius Jr's second-half winner gave Real Madrid victory in Paris.
Jurgen Klopp's side ran into a one-man wall of defiance as Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced one of the great individual performances to thwart Liverpool time and again.
Mohamed Salah, seeking revenge for his early departure through injury in the 2018 final against Real, was denied six times by Courtois who was simply unbeatable.
The victory also sees Carlo Ancelotti make history by becoming the first coach to win a fourth Champions League title.
Real were always a threat and the decisive moment came after 59 minutes when Vinicius stole in unmarked at the far post to score.
This was also a final marred by chaotic scenes outside Stade de France with thousands of Liverpool fans, some targeted with pepper spray by French police, unable to get into the stadium, forcing the kick-off to be delayed by more than 30 minutes.
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Liverpool fall at final hurdle
Liverpool's magnificent season brought them the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup - both won on penalties against Chelsea - but ended in a double disappointment in the final week of a stellar campaign.
The Champions League might have eased the agony of just missing out on the Premier League to Manchester City by one point, only for Liverpool to find themselves on the wrong end of a goalkeeping masterclass from Courtois.
The Belgian was simply perfect as he was a constant thorn in Salah's side, turned Sadio Mane's shot on to the post brilliantly and commanded his penalty area with faultless handling.
Salah held his head in disbelief on many occasions as Courtois manned the barricade for Real, leaving the Egyptian to nurse the pain of another Champions League final defeat by the Spanish giants.
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Liverpool were not quite at their best and eventually paid the price for not taking chances as Real pounced in trademark fashion to win this tournament for a record-extending 14th time.
Klopp's side could not have given any more as they pushed to the final whistle but looked jaded towards the end - no surprise given the demands made of them this season.
Liverpool will still take huge credit by maintaining a push for an historic quadruple until the final week of the season but the conclusion will sting.
The occasion left even more of a sour taste given the events outside Stade de France. Liverpool are demanding a full investigation into how thousands of their fans could not get into the stadium, with dangerous numbers packed into small areas as kick-off approached.
Real Madrid kings of Europe again
Real Madrid have been living by the skin of their teeth in the Champions League this season, but any side that beats Paris St- Germain, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool to reach their goal answers every question.
This is a side that knows how to get the job done, no matter how late they leave it, no matter how much the odds seem stacked against them.
Real are bolstered by years of experience and quality that gives them concrete-clad self-belief that has seen them navigate their way out of so many tight situations.
And what a moment for their legendary coach Ancelotti, who was brought back to the Bernabeu from Everton a year ago and has won La Liga and the Champions League on his return.
Ancelotti can now lay claim to history with that fourth triumph, once again showing his mastery of managing egos and high-class players who respond to the vastly experienced Italian's promptings.
He was the most relaxed man in Paris at his pre-match press conference, oozing confidence, and can now look back at two Champions League wins over Liverpool, here and for AC Milan in 2007, after losing in the so-called miracle of Istanbul in 2005.
Ancelotti is one of the greats and has proved it again.
Player of the match
CourtoisThibaut Courtois
with an average of 8.87
Liverpool
Avg
Squad number5Player nameKonatéAverage rating6.16
Squad number4Player namevan DijkAverage rating5.56
Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating5.44
Squad number10Player nameManéAverage rating5.39
Squad number26Player nameRobertsonAverage rating5.33
- Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating
5.32
- Squad number23Player nameDíazAverage rating
5.18
Squad number14Player nameHendersonAverage rating5.14
- Squad number3Player nameFabinhoAverage rating
5.12
- Squad number6Player nameThiago AlcántaraAverage rating
5.03
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating4.74
- Squad number20Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating
4.52
Squad number9Player nameRoberto FirminoAverage rating4.42
- Squad number8Player nameKeïtaAverage rating
3.74
Real Madrid
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameCourtoisAverage rating
8.87
- Squad number20Player nameVinícius JúniorAverage rating
7.32
- Squad number2Player nameCarvajalAverage rating
7.28
- Squad number9Player nameBenzemaAverage rating
7.04
- Squad number14Player nameCasemiroAverage rating
7.03
- Squad number10Player nameModricAverage rating
6.89
- Squad number15Player nameValverdeAverage rating
6.84
- Squad number3Player nameEder MilitãoAverage rating
6.74
- Squad number4Player nameAlabaAverage rating
6.73
- Squad number23Player nameMendyAverage rating
6.60
- Squad number8Player nameKroosAverage rating
6.58
- Squad number19Player nameDani CeballosAverage rating
5.96
- Squad number25Player nameCamavingaAverage rating
5.94
- Squad number21Player nameRodrygoAverage rating
5.71
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 5Konaté
- 4van Dijk
- 26Robertson
- 14HendersonSubstituted forKeïtaat 77'minutes
- 3FabinhoBooked at 62mins
- 6Thiago AlcántaraSubstituted forFirminoat 77'minutes
- 11Salah
- 10Mané
- 23DíazSubstituted forJotaat 65'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Milner
- 8Keïta
- 9Firmino
- 12Gomez
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 17Jones
- 18Minamino
- 20Jota
- 21Tsimikas
- 32Matip
- 62Kelleher
- 67Elliott
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Courtois
- 2Carvajal
- 3Militão
- 4Alaba
- 23Mendy
- 10ModricSubstituted forCeballosat 90'minutes
- 14Casemiro
- 8Kroos
- 15ValverdeSubstituted forCamavingaat 85'minutes
- 9Benzema
- 20Vinícius JúniorSubstituted forRodrygoat 90+3'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Nacho
- 7E Hazard
- 11Asensio
- 12Marcelo
- 13Lunin
- 17Vázquez
- 18Bale
- 19Ceballos
- 21Rodrygo
- 22Isco
- 24Mariano
- 25Camavinga
- Referee:
- Clément Turpin
- Attendance:
- 75,000
Match Stats
Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamReal Madrid
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home24
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1.
Post update
Naby Keïta (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).
Post update
Foul by Naby Keïta (Liverpool).
Post update
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Rodrygo replaces Vinícius Júnior.
Post update
Attempt missed. Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Karim Benzema.
Post update
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Naby Keïta.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos replaces Luka Modric.
Post update
Foul by Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool).
Post update
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Eduardo Camavinga.
Post update
Offside, Real Madrid. Luka Modric tries a through ball, but Vinícius Júnior is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Eduardo Camavinga replaces Federico Valverde because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
Post update
Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Fabinho.
Post update
Attempt missed. Naby Keïta (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.
Post update
Attempt saved. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Well done Real Madrid 👏 👌
No Liverpool fans gave RM a chance of even scoring.
Eat it up!
Lucky to scrape two trophies on penalties.
The whole of the UK will celebrate tonight due to the most arrogant supporters in the country.
Thank you
Kind Regards
English football
Congratulations, Read Madrid! Brilliant match, and their goalkeeper was outstanding
Did Salah forget he had a score to settle?
Hardly impressive is it?
Everywhere they go - trouble.
Can’t even respect national anthem.