Liverpool suffer Champions League agony as Real Madrid win coveted trophy, again

• Vinicius Junior emerged as the hero for Real Madrid once again as his goal secured the Champions League for Los Blancos at the expense of Liverpool
• Liverpool were constantly frustrated by the brilliance of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was in inspired form
• The final had to start 36 minutes after the scheduled time due to security reasons outside the Stade de France

Real Madrid won the 2021/2022 Champions League as they sank Liverpool in a pulsating final at the Stade de France on Saturday, May 28.

A solitary goal from Vinicius Junior was enough for Carlo Ancelotti’s side to claim victory at the expense of Liverpool, who will have to settle for two domestic trophies this season.

The Reds were out for blood as they looked to get some revenge over the Merenguez in an on-pitch feud that dates back to 2018.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side ran into an unlikely problem as Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois turned into a one-man defence, keeping out a string of unrelenting Liverpool attacks.

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jnr makes odd request to Jurgen Klopp ahead of Champions League final

Football

Liverpool fall short again, how it happened

Prior to kickoff, there was a delay that lasted more than half an hour due to organizational challenges at the Stade de France.

Liverpool fans came by their thousands, and there was a genuine risk of overcrowding from the supporters, who were eager to get into the stadium.

Once the game got underway, it was Liverpool who took the front foot as they played with typical high intensity and pressing from early on.

There were early signs that Courtois was not willing to concede a goal on the evening as he brilliantly adjusted himself to keep out Mohammed Salah’s touch early on.

The Belgian’s best save of the half, however, came when he brilliantly pawed a powerful shot by Sadio Mane, and was lucky to see it come off the post and back into his safe hands.

Thiago, who had an injury scare prior to kick-off, also had attempts at goal but they were fairly routine for the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

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Football

Benzema’s disallowed goal

Having weathered down the storm from Liverpool, Real Madrid thought they had gone ahead against the run of play after leading marksman Karim Benzema took advantage of a defensive mix up in the Liverpool box to slot home.

But after a three-minute review by VAR, the goal was eventually chopped off, with fans online left confused to why it was disallowed.

Officials’ main debate was whether Fabinho deliberately played the ball to the path of Benzema, in which case the Frenchman would have been onside.

Liverpool continued with their typical attacking prowess in the second half, but Madrid were patient, and their moment eventually came.

In the 59th minute, Liverpool’s Trent-Alexander Arnold temporarily switched off and Vinicius Junior ghosted in behind to slot in a cross-shot from Valverde to send Real Madrid fans into delirium.

Salah, looking for his first goal or assist in a major final, tried to level things up with several attempts, including a curler that was once again kept out expertly by the Real Madrid shot-stopper.

In the end, it was Liverpool players who collapsed on the pitch in disappointment at full time as they missed out on the chance to claim a seventh European title.