For the 14th time, Real Madrid is European champions after beating Liverpool 1-0 at the Stade de France in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final.
In a match that was largely overshadowed by UEFA’s horrific disorganization, which led to a 35-minute delay in the opening strike, Madrid proved their tenacity during the elimination stages. Los Blancos have made unprecedented returns against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City. They pondered and lied in the weeds before seizing their opportunity on Saturday.
Real Madrid and the Champions League: they are like peanut butter and jam.
Here are three thoughts from Saturday’s finale.
Indomitable characters deliver
The whole focus from the point of view of Real Madrid before this match was on Karim Benzema and their ageless trio in the midfield. Although Benzema had a controversial goal and the midfielders made their presence felt, a couple of lesser-known players in Madrid were the ones who created the winning moment.
The winner himself was beautifully crafted. Fabinho, Tiago and Luis Diaz from Liverpool tried to cut Dani Carvajal, but he successfully escaped to Casemiro, who found Federico Valverde alone on the right line.
This allowed the Uruguayan to bomb the flank against Virgil van Dyke, who was caught in two thoughts: to press against Valverde and allow Carvajal to overlap unhindered, or to hold his position. He chose the latter, with Valverde choosing striker Vinicius Jr. on the back post.
Thus, Vinicius became the youngest top scorer in the Champions League final after Lionel Messi in 2009 and the fifth youngest overall.
The youngest goal scorers in the final in @ChampionsLeague;
Patrick Kluivert (1995) – 18 years, 327 days Carlos Alberto (2004) – 19 years, 167 days Lars Ricken (1997) – 20 years, 322 days Marco Asensio (2017) – 21 years, 133 days VINICIUS 22 20 JUNIOR days pic .twitter.com / 7siQTuKt7Z
– Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 28, 2022
10 – Vinícius Júnior (4 goals, 6 assists) is the first South American player to play directly over 10 goals in a single UEFA Champions League campaign, aged 21 or under after Lionel Messi in 2008-09 (14 – 9 goals, 5 assists). Talent. #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/3xEzXmes4h
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 28, 2022
For a player who has been excited since the age of 16, it is easy to forget that Vinicius is still only 21 years old and this is the year in which he increased his main numbers. The Brazilian averaged 0.39 expected goals (xG) and 0.26 expected assists (xA) for 90 minutes this season in La Liga and the Champions League combined, leading to a total of 20 goals and 16 assists. He not only creates more chances, but also tries better shots and the Brazilian reaps the prizes.
Make no mistake, he is now a real Galaxy.
But don’t take anything away from Valverde either. Leaving aside the assist, the 23-year-old worked tirelessly outside the ball to assist Carvajal against Diaz and Andy Robertson throughout the match. These efforts helped to cancel the left-wing duo of Liverpool.
Federico Valverde heat map (left) and defensive action (right) against Liverpool. (via Telemundo Deportes)
All in one day work for the unsung heroes of Madrid.
Closing the flanks
Danny Carvajal was responsible for perhaps the strongest defensive event in the final, with the aforementioned help of Federico Valverde.
Whatever Diaz tried to do – break inside or get Liverpool’s defense to hit long, diagonal passes over Madrid’s back line – he couldn’t beat Carvajal. In the end, the Colombian was replaced by Diogo Jota in the 65th minute.
In total, Carvajal finished four games, seven recoveries, three cleanups, two blockades and two interceptions. Just sublime.
But it wasn’t just the match zone dominated by Madrid. Ibrahima Conate was awarded the Vinicius Junior, an honor that only he can claim among the defenders of Liverpool.
This finale would always be determined by his individual battles, especially on the wings. It is then appropriate that the only goal was scored in the left wing of Liverpool, while the other three factions held firm.
Courtois clutch
This writer may be biased as a proud member of the goalkeeper union who carries cards, but there is no denying how influential Thibaut Courtois was in the final.
Courtois made a record nine saves in the final and so many were mind-boggling. It is almost difficult to choose the best rescue.
Whether diving low to the left after rocking to the right …
Or somehow grab Sadio Mane’s palm from a distance …
Or this miraculous stop of Mohammed Salah …
The difficulty of making these saves when Courtois is 6 feet 6 cannot be underestimated. Goalkeepers need to be ridiculously agile to get down as quickly as possible, which is not easy for anyone of Courtois’ height.
Obviously xG is not the most important statistic, but it can highlight a brilliant performance in defense or heroic goalkeeping, and we witnessed the latter on Saturday. There is very little chance for Real Madrid to lift the trophy without their Belgian stop-top.
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