CNN
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Very few teams have faced Real Madrid in a Champions League final with as much confidence as Borussia Dortmund displayed at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.
However, in the end the result was the same as it always is.
Despite struggling and defending for much of the final, at times risking their lives, Real Madrid will leave London with a record 15th European Cup, won thanks to last-minute goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior. los blancos Dortmund lost their hearts with a 2-0 win.
It was a particularly cruel end for Dortmund defender Ian Maatsen, who needlessly missed a corner for Carvajal’s header and gave Real possession for Vinicius’s goal just minutes later.
After a night of hard work, Real Madrid celebrated once again at the full-time whistle in the Champions League final, with fans lining up around the white wall singing melody for their unbeatable team.
Real have not lost a European Cup final since losing 1-0 to Liverpool in 1981. Real have now won nine in a row in 43 years, taking the club’s total wins to 15 – more than double the number of second-placed AC Milan.
The atmosphere inside the stadium before kick-off was completely different. About an hour before kick-off came the glorious sounds of the famous ‘Yellow Wall’, which was transported from Dortmund to Wembley brick-by-brick, fan-by-fan without interruption.
Sensing that Dortmund fans were being outmatched by Real Madrid, Vinicius raised his fist and clapped loudly at the white-uniformed supporters to get them to cheer louder as well.
That explosion aside, though, all the noise in the opening 10 minutes came from the Dortmund fans; their incessant, deafening cheers filled the gloomy London sky above Wembley Stadium.
There is hardly a more challenging spectacle in football than playing against Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
But Dortmund showed courage early on. Edin Terzic’s side fearlessly passed the ball out from the back, although some risky deliveries almost gave Real possession.
It was superb team passing that created the first real chance of the final, but Julian Brandt got the ball under his feet and his shot went badly wide, with only Thibaut Courtois able to beat it in the box.
The move created several golden opportunities for Dortmund.
Nicholas Fulkrug had a close header saved and an effort hit the post and went over the goal line, while Kareem Adeyemi had two glorious one-on-one chances but failed to convert either.
Over the last few years, Real have developed an uncanny ability to pull off improbable comebacks in the Champions League.
Defender Nacho once said the team had “magic” on European nights, but tonight it felt as if some supernatural force was preventing Dortmund from scoring.
However, the missed chances did not dampen the enthusiasm of Dortmund fans, with around 40,000 fans roaring in unison and shaking the foundations of Wembley.
Dortmund completely dominated the first half, with the team paying no heed to Real’s remarkable record in the competition and their aura of invincibility.
When the referee called it half-time, the Dortmund players greeted the match with a standing ovation. However, the Real fans stood in stunned silence, as they had been for most of the first half.
The team not only looked weak defensively but also completely incapable of getting forward, with every attack thwarted by Dortmund’s defence with ease.
It is indeed an unusual sight to see Real beaten so badly in the Champions League, although the feeling was strong that Dortmund would eventually come to rue all those missed chances.
There were some early signs from the white-uniformed players early in the second half – Toni Kroos’ free-kick was brilliantly saved by Gregor Kobel – but Dortmund came back.
The team continued to dominate in the opening 20 minutes and Fullkrug had another great chance which was saved by Courtois.
The Belgian produced one of his greatest performances of all time in the Champions League final two years ago when Real beat Liverpool, and he was in his best form once again after returning from injury just in time for the game.
Then the inevitable happened: first from Carvajal’s header and then when Maatsen passed the ball straight to Bellingham, who in turn passed the Englishman to Vinicius, who dinked the ball over Kobel.
With seconds left in the game and all hope fading away – and facing thousands of jumping, cheering Real fans – Dortmund supporters raised their scarves and continued to sing.
He thought he finally had a chance to celebrate late on after Fullcrug scored, but he didn’t get that chance as the goal was ruled out for offside.
“Campeones, Campeones Olé, Olé, Olé,” came the chant from Real supporters as Carvajal waited to raise the trophy above his head.
It will be a sleepless night for both players and fans, but for very different reasons.
