PARIS (AP) – Real Madrid became the European champions for a record extension for the 14th time after beating Liverpool 1-0 in the Champions League final, which started 37 minutes late due to anxious problems with the audience in front of the Stade de France ” on Saturday.
Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior struck close in the 59th minute from Federico Valverde’s shot through the goal, securing a victory that gave Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti a record fourth European Cup title.
By the time Madrid finished doubles in the Champions League – La Liga, Liverpool had finished a season that promised so much – a week ago they were fighting for an unprecedented four-time trophy – with the two domestic cups in England.
The English team could not find a way past Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who directed Sadio Mane’s shot from the first half to the crossbar and made an even better save to deflect the efforts of Mohamed Salah in the 81st minute.
Madrid has consolidated its status as king of European football, given that the Spanish giant has twice as many European cups as number 2 on the list, Milan. Liverpool remained at six.
However, the problems with the audience before the match darkened this final and will certainly be at the center of an investigation by UEFA and the authorities in the coming days.
With 45 minutes to go, there were still long lines of Liverpool fans waiting to be admitted to the stadium, and there were sporadic cases of fans breaking through the guards and running to the hall.
The Associated Press saw two fans – one dressed in Liverpool clothes – knocked to the ground by the stewards and thrown out of the gates, while others managed to enter all the way to the arena.
The situation has begun to spiral out of control as riot police use tear gas against Liverpool supporters in queues, while some fans have been spotted climbing fences. Officers with batons and riot shields ran from gate to gate to prevent pockets of fans from making their way to the stadium without showing tickets.
About 15 minutes before the scheduled start at 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT), it was announced that there would be a delay, blaming the late arrival of fans at the stadium. He was greeted with ridicule at the stadium, given that these fans were already enduring long queues.
The scenes were reminiscent of the chaos in front of Wembley Stadium before the final of last year’s European Championship between England and Italy.
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