Real Madrid secured their 15th Champions League victory with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in front of 86,212 fans. Goals by Daniel Carvajal and Vinicius Junior proved to be the difference as the LaLiga giants added yet another European Cup to their illustrious history. For midfielder Toni Kroos, this win marked his sixth Champions League title, putting him in the same category as Real legend Paco Gento.
Kroos, along with his teammates Luka Modric and Carvajal, received high praise from Federico Valverde, who described the German midfielder as a legend who has left a lasting impact on the club’s history. While Kroos’ time at Real Madrid may be coming to an end, as he embarks on representing Germany at the upcoming European Championships, his competitive attitude and leadership will be remembered by the younger players he has inspired.
Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, on the other hand, experienced disappointment as he started on the bench in the final and failed to make a significant impact after coming on in the 72nd minute. Dortmund had shown promise in the early stages of the game, with opportunities to take the lead, but ultimately lost control after conceding the first goal to Real Madrid.
Head coach Edin Terzic praised his team’s performance, emphasizing their structured counter-football approach that nearly gave them the lead. However, missed chances in front of goal proved costly, as Real Madrid capitalized on a set-piece opportunity to turn the game in their favor. For Dortmund, the defeat represents a missed opportunity to claim the Champions League title, with many players and coaching staff potentially not being in place for another final in the near future.
The outcome of the final serves as a lesson for Dortmund, who must learn from their mistakes in order to improve and potentially reach a final again in the future. The difference in clinical finishing and game-changing moments proved decisive, highlighting the ruthlessness of top-level competition in the Champions League. Despite the disappointment, Dortmund can take pride in their journey to the final and look to build on their experiences for future success in European competition.
As the dust settles on the Champions League final, the focus now shifts to the upcoming European Championships, where Kroos will aim to add the only major trophy missing from his collection. Real Madrid’s triumph at Wembley will go down in history as another memorable chapter in the club’s storied European legacy, while Dortmund will reflect on what could have been and use the defeat as motivation for future achievements.
