Real Madrid’s relentless pursuit of European glory continued as they claimed their 15th Champions League title with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. Despite being outplayed for large parts of the match, Real Madrid’s experience and clinical finishing secured them yet another European triumph.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side, known for their resilience in European finals, absorbed Dortmund’s early pressure, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois making crucial saves on his return from two serious knee injuries. Dortmund, led by Edin Terzic and watched by former manager Jurgen Klopp, squandered several opportunities, including a notable miss by Niclas Fullkrug, who hit the post in the first half.
The game was briefly interrupted at the start due to pitch invaders, but once resumed, Dortmund dominated the first half. However, their inability to convert chances, including Karim Adeyemi’s wide touch after rounding Courtois and Fullkrug’s close-range miss, proved costly.
Madrid’s second-half resurgence began with Thibaut Courtois continuing to thwart Dortmund’s efforts. Real Madrid gradually found their footing, with a key turning point coming from a set-piece. Dani Carvajal scored the opening goal by heading in a Toni Kroos corner with just 16 minutes left on the clock.
As Dortmund pushed for an equalizer, Real Madrid capitalized on a mistake by Ian Maatsen, with Vinicius Junior calmly finishing a pass from Jude Bellingham to double their lead. Although Fullkrug had a goal disallowed for offside, Madrid’s defense held firm.
The victory was marked by emotional celebrations from veterans like Carvajal, Luka Modric, Nacho, and the retiring Toni Kroos, who each celebrated their record-equalling sixth European Cup win. For Dortmund, the loss echoed their previous Wembley heartbreak against Bayern Munich in the 2013 final, leaving them to ponder what could have been.
Real Madrid’s ability to perform under pressure and capitalize on key moments once again proved decisive, reinforcing their status as Europe’s most successful club.