Real Madrid beat Liverpool to win Champions League title thanks to Vinicius Junior and Thibaut Courtois

For the record 14th time in their rich, unmatched history, Real Madrid were crowned kings of the UEFA Champions League on Saturday at Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Carlo Ancelotti's side got a second half-goal from Vinicious Junior on one of their few chances to defeat Premier League giants Liverpool 1-0 in the final.

Jurgen Klopp's team dominated the ball and the chances, but the best opportunity for Los Blancos in the second half resulted in the lone goal of the match. Federico Valverde played a strong ball across the box that found Vinicius Jr. at the back post for a fairly easy finish in the 59th minute, leaving the Reds shell shocked.

Real Madrid finished the game with just four shots, while Liverpool had 24.

Wasteful. The Reds will feel proud of the chances created but disappointed with how they finished. Part of the reason was what Courtois was able to do in goal, but then I think back to Naby Keita's chance late on. The midfielder was alone at the top of the box when the ball fell to him, and he could have taken two touches before firing, yet he hit it first touch and sent the ball flying closer to the corner flag than the goal. It was the match of wasted chances for the Reds.

Real Madrid will come away feeling ...

Like they are back on their throne. Nobody does UCL better, and they've now won their last 10 European finals. You read that right. It might not always be pretty, but boy are they effective and nobody knows how to get the job done better than them. Early on, it looked like it would be the Reds' night with their flurry of chances, but once again they only bent and did not break, scoring and then holding on late. It was a top-tier performance by a team whose permanent residence is atop of the continent. On this night, Real Madrid weren't the strongest. But as always, they showed why they are the best. 

Game-changing moment:

It came in the 21st minute. Mane infiltrated the box, made a move to get across it, and he fired a low shot that had Courtois' momentum taking him the other way. But the goalkeeper was ready for it, getting a slight touch on the ball to send it off the post. 

Man of the match:

Nobody came close to what Courtois did. His impact single-handled kept his team in position to win it. He closed down well, he was a sure thing in the air and made no mistakes. It was as close to a perfect goalkeeper performance as you will find. 

A perfect five for five

Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal and Luka Modric made history in this match, joining their former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to play in and win five Champions League titles. They did four of them together, with Ronaldo's other one being his first in 2008 when Manchester United beat Chelsea. 

Most players in Europe's top leagues never even get to play in the Champions League, but to go to five and win them all is the stuff of legends. On top of it, each made an impact in this one. Benzema was the creator, Modric the distributor, and Carvajal put in a stellar shift in defense to contain Luis Diaz.

UEFA announce new Champions League plan

           🏆 UEFA PLANS TO EXPANDS  CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TO 36 TEAM FROM                                        2024

UEFA have scrapped their controversial proposals for Champions League qualification, but have announced a new plan which could still benefit Premier League clubs.

European football’s governing body had looked set to implement new plans to reward two teams with places in the Champions League based on their 10-year coefficient. Proposals had also been tabled to extend the group stage to 10 matches, rather than the current six.

UEFA though have now confirmed the “Swiss system” will not be utilised from the start of the 2024/25 season following fresh talks with the ECA. A statement also confirmed plans to extend the group stage to 10 games have been shelved, with teams set to play eight instead.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: “UEFA has clearly shown today that we are fully committed to respecting the fundamental values of sport and to defending the key principle of open competitions, with qualification based on sporting merit, fully in line with the values and solidarity-based European sports model.

“Today’s decisions conclude an extensive consultation process during which we listened to the ideas of fans, players, coaches, national associations, clubs and leagues to name but a few, with the aim to find the best solution for the development and success of European football, both domestically and on the international club stage."

Miracle = Magic Of Football ? Greatest Comeback in the History of champions League 🏆 Real Madrid stun Manchester City 🙌

Real Madrid produced one of the all-time great European comebacks to stun  Manchester City and book a most unlikely spot in the Champions League final against Liverpool 

A brace from Rodriygo and a Karim Benzama penalty, all scored from the 90th minute on, gave Carlo Ancelotti's side a 3-1 win after extra time at the Bernabeu on Wednesday to send them to Paris with a 6-5 aggregate triumph in a semifinal not soon to be forgotten.

Carlo Ancelotti said the "history of the club" helped his Real Madrid side stage another Champions League comeback and reach the final.

The 13-time European champions had also come from behind to beat Paris St-Germain in the last 16 and Chelsea in the quarter-finals.

"I cannot say we are used to living this kind of life, but what happened tonight it happened against Chelsea and also against PSG," Ancelotti told BT Sport.

"If you have to say why, it is the history of this club that helps us to keep going when it seems that we are gone. The game was close to finished and we managed to find the last energy we had."

Real have reached a record-extending 17th final, while Ancelotti has become the first coach to reach five finals in the competition and could set a new record of four titles as a coach. The Spanish giants will face six-time winners Liverpool on May 28 in a repeat of the 2018 final, which Real won 3-1.

"I am happy to be there in the final, in Paris against another great rival," added the 62-year-old Ancelotti. "We are used to it. It will be a fantastic game for football."