Ramos has been one of the stars of Real’s latest two triumphs, having scored a late equaliser that pushed the 2014 final into extra-time before hitting the opener on Saturday after just 15 minutes only for Yannick Carrasco to pull Atletico level with 11 minutes remaining in normal time.
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Before half-time Atletico were restriced to an Antoine Griezmann shot that fizzed wide of the upright, but they were handed a lifeline seconds after the restart when Pepe barged into Torres from behind.
The front and back pages of the Spanish newspapers were dominated by one thing on Sunday – the Champions League final.
It used to be that the European Cup was a grail only to be attained after a lengthy quest, the consecration of a great team.
Just days after Real Madrid were crowned European champions for the 11th time, club president Florentino Perez has led calls for the revamping of the Champions League format.
“The fans are waiting for us”, Ronaldo said. However, the 32 teams group matches, twenty-two giant teams have already taken place in in the group stage for next Champions League.
Barcelona-based sports dailies Sport and Mundo Deportivo both ran the headline “Maximum penalty” alongside a photo of prostrate Atletico players and questioning the supposed offside it said allowed Real to open the score.
“There is a very good feeling between us and Zidane, he has brought happiness, hope, humility and hard work”, Ramos said.
Tellingly Cristiano Ronaldo was ready with the statistics: more than 50 goals scored in a season (for a sixth successive campaign); top scorer in the Champions League again (16 goals); more minutes on the pitch for his club than any other Real Madrid player – and now three Champions League winners’ medals to his name, more than anyone else from his country, Portugal.
“I asked [Zidane] to let me take the fifth penalty because I was going to score the winning goal”.
“They (Atletico) deserved it”.
It is the third time Zidane has got his hands on the Champions League trophy.
Real and Atletico contested their second Champions League final in three seasons.
Real Madrid could have killed off the match moments earlier as Gareth Bale’s effort was cleared off the line, moments after Cristiano Ronaldo had two attempts saved.
There is an old saying in Spain that Los Blancos do not make it to European Finals – they win them. Their record of not conceding at the Santiago Bernabeu in this season’s competition looks rather better than it was-both Roma and Wolfsburg had chances. “It means I am still good”, Ronaldo said.
“Two years ago, I told you that we would return to a final, now, I tell you that Gabi, our captain, will lift the Champions League sooner or later, and we will celebrate it all together in Neptuno [the statue in Madrid]. This goes beyond any game or competition”, Iniesta said.
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Torres – a Champions League victor with Chelsea in 2012 – said he’s ready to give it everything. “I’m happy because I’m a part of this great club for a long time now”.
