Results and highlights from Real Madrid’s Champions League final win.
The 2015-16 Champions League season came to a close on Saturday, with Real Madrid winning 5-3 in penalties after the game was 1-1 after 120 minutes at Stadio San Siro in Milan, Italy. The win was enough to clinch Real’s 11th Champions League title, or the Undecima.
It is the second time in three years that the Madrid rivals have clashed in the Final, the only two teams from the same city to ever meet in the game. Real Madrid won that meeting in 2014, and Atletico Madrid came into Saturday’s looking to avenge that loss and win their first Champions League.
Early in the game, Real Madrid threatened with Gareth Bale taking a free kick from the right wing. The cross sailed in low and was deflected on goal, but Atletico’s Jan Oblak made a big save to keep the score tied at zero.
It just delayed the inevitable, with Real Madrid scoring the go-ahead goal just 15 minutes in. And it came from none other than the man who broke Atletico’s hearts two years ago, Sergio Ramos.
In the second half, Atletico were in search of a spark and got one in the first minute when Fernando Torres won a penalty off a challenge from Pepe. Their leading scorer Antoine Griezmann took it, but he opted for power and rang it off the crossbar. Some people thought the penalty call was questionable, so I guess you could say the ball don’t lie.
Karim Benzema had a golden opportunity to put the game away in the 70th minute on a counterattack. But instead of passing the ball, he shot it from a bad angle, leaving Oblak to make the easy save. Bale also had a great chance, but Stefan Savic cleared it off the line.
Those chances came back to haunt Real, as Yannick Carrasco leveled it for Atletico in the 79th minute, although his celebration might have been better. They would’ve had the lead if Griezmann converted his penalty, but at least this goal ensured that wouldn’t be the defining moment of the match.
For the second time in three years, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid had to settle the score in extra time with the game tied at 1. It was also the third straight Champions League Final at San Siro to go to extra time — the other two being in 1970 and 2001.
But this time, two periods of extra time brought no goals, meaning penalties would be needed to determine the winner. Cristiano Ronaldo netted the winning kick to seal the win for Madrid after Juanfran’s effort went off the post.
While Ronaldo still hasn’t scored in San Siro, he netted a penalty in both this year’s Final and in 2014, but this time around, it was the one that clinched the title. He even repeated his shirtless celebration after scoring.
Once again, congratulations to Real Madrid for winning the Champions League yet again, and congratulations to Zinedine Zidane for winning the competition as both a player and manager.
Three stars
1. Gareth Bale – Created plenty of chances throughout the game, and assisted on Ramos’ opener.
2. Casemiro – Stayed active in Real Madrid’s midfield by passing the ball well, creating lots of chances and helping out the back line.
3. Sergio Ramos – Atletico Madrid’s boogeyman opened the scoring, and continued to be a threat on set pieces. Had some contributions on the defensive side as well.
Highlights
Oblak’s big save early in the game:
"First big chance for Real just 6 minutes in but Oblak comes up with the save for Atletico. #UCLfinal https://t.co/o4wt5YA52K— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 28, 2016"
Sergio Ramos’ opening goal:
"Sergio Ramos scores in his 2nd straight #UCLfinal against Atletico to give Real Madrid the 1-0 lead. @HeinekenSoccer https://t.co/3fqIFRMIOv— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) May 28, 2016"
Griezmann’s penalty miss:
"Griezmann misses the golden chance to equalize for Atletico Madrid. Real still lead, 1-0. #UCLfinal @HeinekenSoccer https://t.co/mD08p3WTUP— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) May 28, 2016"
Benzema chance:
"Oblak keeps Atletico in the game with this stop on Benzema. Should Real’s No. 9 have passed instead? #UCLfinal https://t.co/pS0bABeYSq— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 28, 2016"
Carrasco goal:
"Carrasco comes off the bench to tie it up! Will another Real-Atletico #UCLfinal go to extra time? @HeinekenSoccer https://t.co/pIJizgmjBU— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 28, 2016"
Ronaldo’s winning penalty:
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