Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning penalty in a shootout to give Real Madrid victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final which finished 1-1 after extra time on Saturday.
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Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos headed his team ahead as reward for their first-half dominance, Atletico attacker Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty soon after the break, but substitute Yannick Carrasco equalised late on to send the game to extra-time.
The Portugal worldwide hailed Real’s composure and felt their greater experience over Atletico made the difference when it mattered.
As Champions League victor, Madrid will play in the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA’s Club World Cup.
Shoot-out victor Ronaldo described Real Madrid’s win as unbelievable, ahead of what will be a gruelling European Championships campaign with Portugal.
“We must now go home and tend to our wounds”.
Real Madrid’s record-extending 11th European title also denied its city rival the most coveted trophy in club soccer for the second time in three years.
Diego Simeone described Atletico Madrid’s defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final as a “failure”.
Toni Kroos’ free-kick from the left hand side looked poor initially before Gareth Bale’s flick on directed the ball into the path of an arguably offside Sergio Ramos.
Real Madrid’s run to Champions League glory has thrilled Gareth Bale, who is now a two-time European champion.
Real Madrid threw every man forward to try and restore their lead, but the closest they came to a victor was through Marcelo’s fizzed cross, but no one in white could find a touch.
“This trophy belongs to Real Madrid”.
Match-winner Ronaldo added: “The penalties are always a lottery, you never know what will happen, but our team showed more experience and we showed it by scoring all the penalties”. I’m so proud to be part of this great club.
The challenges came in thick and fast early on and Atletico gave away two free-kicks in unsafe positions. Whoever wins deserves to win.
Madrid looked risky on the counter and Karim Benzema was put through on goal with 20 minutes remaining, but the French forward’s effort was saved by the impressive Oblak.
In retaliation, Real Madrid fans hit their Barcelona counterparts hard after Los Blancos defeated Atletico to win the Champions League final. “I feel sorry for Atletico but I’m glad for ourselves that we won it again”.
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They might not have a star-studded squad like Real’s, but the players have been excellent this season, in the goal, we have Jan Oblak from Slovenia, who has kept eight clean sheets in the Champions league out of the 12 games played and 24 clean sheets in the La Liga out of the 38 games played.
