Real Madrid are used to winning the Champions League. Heading into this season, they had 13 titles to their name, nearly twice as many as the second most successful team in the competition.
Few fancied them to add to their tally in the 2021/22 campaign, with the Spanish club looking like a side in transition. What would follow was a run the likes of which the competition will likely never see again.
Tonight's final could have went differently. Liverpool had the majority of the chances, but in Thibaut Courtois, they came up against a goalkeeper who gave perhaps the greatest performance of his career.
Off the post from Mane!!!
What a save Courtois 👏👏👏#UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/fCRqUAv8iB— Watch the UCL on LiveScore 🇮🇪 (@LiveScoreIE) May 28, 2022
As they have made a habit of in this season's competition, Real Madrid found a way to get the job done.
The decisive goal came via Vinicius Jr, who reacted brilliantly to Ernesto Valverde's dangerous ball across the face of goal.
𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗨𝗦!!! 🇧🇷
The youngster puts Real Madrid ahead in the #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/ZjVVVdKlzy— Watch the UCL on LiveScore 🇮🇪 (@LiveScoreIE) May 28, 2022
Despite Jurgen Klopp's side pushing for the equaliser late on, they couldn't get back on level terms.
Once again, they were met with the immovable object that was Courtois.
The touch 🤯
The shot 💥
The save 👏
Courtois with another STUNNING save to deny Salah! #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/Wtu7koVBvO— Watch the UCL on LiveScore 🇮🇪 (@LiveScoreIE) May 28, 2022
Thibaut Courtois made 𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗘 saves against Liverpool tonight 🧤
The 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 on record by a goalkeeper in a UEFA Champions League final (since 2003-04)
Unreal performance 🤯#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/j14C4sfKtH— LiveScore (@livescore) May 28, 2022
While many viewed Liverpool as favourites before this fixture, there was a sense of destiny about Real Madrid's run in the competition.
They produced comeback after comeback in the knockout stages. Not only that, but they did so against the very best teams in Europe.
Right from the start of the season, when they were drawn in a group alongside Italian champions Inter Milan, they have done things the hard way.
It is likely that no team will ever face a more difficult route to the trophy than facing teams of the quality of PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool in the knockout stages. You could make an argument that they are the four other best teams on the continent.
All of that is without mentioning some of the miraculous moments along the way.
OH MY WORD BENZEMA! 🤩⚪️#UCL pic.twitter.com/yOl5rW2kCR
— Watch the UCL on LiveScore 🇮🇪 (@LiveScoreIE) April 6, 2022
There is just something about Real Madrid in the Champions League. The have now won their last eight final appearances in the competition. Ironically enough, their last defeat on this stage came against Liverpool in Paris back in 1981.
You can say that they're not the most talented team in Europe, but few could argue that they don't deserve to lift the trophy.
We will be waiting quite a while to see another team who does it in the same way this Madrid team have.
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