Real Madrid win their 11th European Cup after penalty shootout

Ramos strikes

Real Madrid started the game brightly despite Atletico Madrid snapping around their heels. A Gareth Bale freekick after five minutes saw Jan Oblak save point-blank as Casemiro got on the end of it and Zinedine Zidane’s men continued to press forward. Another freekick this time from the left was taken by Toni Kroos. Bale flicked on and Sergio Ramos slid in to poke the ball under Oblak. It was his first Champions League goal since the 2014 final.

Get in! @SergioRamos celebrates firing us ahead at the San Siro! 

Real Madrid 1-0 Atlético#APorLaUndecima #RMUCL pic.twitter.com/ytya2pSSq1

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) May 28, 2016

 

Atletico grow into game

Atletico started to settle into the game a little more as Madrid appeared content to play more on the counter-attack but chances were hard to come by. Atletico’s leading scorer Antoine Griezmann started finding space and fired wide of the post when well placed just before the break.

Penalty miss

Diego Simeone replaced Augusto with winger Yannick Carrasco for the second half and the Rojiblancos started strongly. Pepe bundled Fernando Torres over for a penalty two minutes after the restart and Griezmann stepped up to take responsibility. But the France striker, who had had a penalty saved by Keylor Navas in the Liga BBVA, blasted his effort against the crossbar.

Carrasco levels

Atletico continued to carry the greatest threat. Savic almost prodded home at the far post at a corner and Saul volleyed wide with a spectacular effort. But as Atletico opened up they left gaps at the back. Oblak made a spectacular one-on-one save from Karim Benzema and then denied Bale after the Welshman dribbled his way into the area to cause a huge penalty area scramble. Just as Madrid looked most threatening, Atletico levelled. Juanfran crossed from the right and Carrasco thumped a volley into the roof of the net at the back post.

94' |1-1| This is how @CarrascoY21 celebrated the tie. We’re going to keep believing!! #NeverStopBelieving #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/tDOMJjlJKS

— Atleti English (@atletienglish) May 28, 2016

Penalties

There was little to separate the sides in Extra Time with weary legs taking their toll and penalties appeared almost inevitable. When it came down to the shootout the takers left the keeprs with little option. It was only when Atletico defender Juanfran stepped up to take the seventh spot kick that the deadlock was broken. The Spain international struck the post leaving Cristiano Ronaldo to step forward to strike the decisive penalty. The Portugal forward scored to start the celebrations helping Zidane win the European Cup in his debut season as coach, and a record-extending 11th title for his club Real Madrid.