Friday, June 13, 2025
No Result
View All Result
News Report  Zimbabwe
  • News that Matters
    • News
    • Health and Diseases
    • Technology
    • Religion
    • Horror and Disaster
    • Elections 2023
  • Crime and Courts
  • Celebrity
  • Sports
  • Mjolo
  • Breaking News
  • News that Matters
    • News
    • Health and Diseases
    • Technology
    • Religion
    • Horror and Disaster
    • Elections 2023
  • Crime and Courts
  • Celebrity
  • Sports
  • Mjolo
  • Breaking News
No Result
View All Result
News Report  Zimbabwe
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports

Real Madrid high-wire act brings Champions League glory again

June 2, 2024
0
Real Madrid high-wire act brings Champions League glory again

Real Madrid’s Champions League existence resembles the competition’s version of a high-wire act, where the Spanish giants stumble and threaten to fall so many times, but rarely do.

Boss Carlo Ancelotti claimed a historic fifth Champions League title and Real secured their 15th win in the tournament as the bold challenge of Borussia Dortmund was overcome at Wembley with late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr.

As Ancelotti and his players hoisted the giant trophy amid pyrotechnics and fireworks over the stadium, it was a familiar conclusion to a story that had so many elements of the old plotlines.

It is not quite a case of “if you’ve seen one of these victories you’ve seen them all”, but many of the opponents Real have left broken-hearted in these finals in recent years – Atletico Madrid and Liverpool chief among them – will sympathise with the pain Dortmund felt as they walked forlornly in front of their magnificent fans who illuminated Wembley with their colour and made it echo to their noise.

Real stumbled around in a dreadful first half for Ancelotti’s side, spooked by Dortmund’s pace and the sheer intensity of Edin Terzic’s side, living on their nerves and luck to somehow go in at half-time on level terms.

Karim Adeyemi will wonder whether he should have shot rather than try to go around Real keeper Thibaut Courtois when clean through, then whether he could have done better with another chance that was saved.

Niclas Fullkrug saw his shot bounce back agonisingly from the inside of the post, the striker thwarted by Courtois after the break from a powerful header.

And all the time there was a growing sense of inevitability that Real would survive and prevail when they looked deep in trouble, as they did against Manchester City in the quarter-finals and Bayern Munich in the last four.

Real are quite simply the Champions League’s most ruthless winning machine. And in Ancelotti they have a coach with the Midas touch, in charge of players who have totted up so many wins in this competition and know how to get the job done.

They showed it again when Dortmund blinked 16 minutes from time, Carvajal meeting Toni Kroos’ corner to glance a header beyond keeper Gregor Kobel and the despairing hand of defender Mats Hummels, who was clearly tempted to risk a red card to keep the effort out.

The game was up, Vinicius Jr swiftly adding a second to ensure Real’s supporters were able to enjoy triumph in the competition in which they are the dominant force.

Those of us who have followed Real’s fortunes in the Champions League over the years are now old hands at this.

We can recall watching them steal victory from under the noses of arch-rivals Atletico Madrid with Sergio Ramos’ 93rd-minute equaliser at Lisbon’s Stadium of Light in 2014, going on to win 4-1 to give Ancelotti his first Champions League at the club.

And again in Paris two years ago, when one of the great faultless goalkeeping performances from Courtois left Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, in particular, driven to despair with Vinicius Jr emerging as the match-winner.

The temptation is to label Real lucky, but it simply happens on too many occasions for this to be a justified description. A straw poll among neutrals at half-time at Wembley would have come down firmly on the side of a Real victory, even though they had been abysmal.

Real may have been mediocre for large parts but ended up writing another fresh chapter in their rich history. So Real. So Carlo Ancelotti.

Through it all stood the impassive Ancelotti, the masterly facilitator of great players, working it out with the help of those in his charge, including a lengthy touchline conversation with Carvajal close to half-time.

If he was feeling stress at Real’s struggles, he did not show it – and why should he? He, more than anyone, knows what he has at his disposal and what they have delivered for him before. They did it again.

The Italian has been eclipsing his contemporaries in this competition for two decades. Even the two most trumpeted of the recent generation in Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have come nowhere near his record of success.

It was night when Real celebrated what will soon by the past but also looked to a golden future – one likely to be spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe when he completes his expected move to the Bernabeu, a chilling prospect for those hoping to prevent a 16th win next season.

England’s Jude Bellingham may have had a quiet night compared his stellar deeds in his first season at Real Madrid, where he has now added the Champions League to La Liga, the SuperCopa and La Liga’s Player of the Year award.

The 20-year-old struggled to make an impact at Wembley but still provided the pass for Vinicius Jr’s second goal, also missing a great chance himself with the score 1-0.

Bellingham will be the centrepiece for Real going forward, and England manager Gareth Southgate will hope a Champions League winners’ medal will provide a turbo-charge going into Euro 2024.

It was farewell to the masterly Kroos, who joined Carvajal, Nacho and late substitute Luka Modric in winning their sixth Champions League title, all equalling the tournament record of another Real icon, Paco Gento.

The latter three are still likely to be at the Bernabeu next season with power to add because Real Madrid – no matter how they do it – quite simply keep on rewriting history.

Who would bet against them, bolstered by Mbappe, coming back and lifting the Champions League again in 12 months’ time?

bbc

Related Posts

Let’s break down the 2026 FIFA World Cup update.

Let’s break down the 2026 FIFA World Cup update.

by Nyathi
June 12, 2025
0

  Qualified Teams: - Asia: - Iran - Uzbekistan (first-ever World Cup qualification) - South Korea - Jordan - Australia...

FIFA Slams Nyasa Big Bullets with a Deadline

FIFA Slams Nyasa Big Bullets with a Deadline

by Nyathi
June 10, 2025
0

In a shocking turn of events, FIFA has given Nyasa Big Bullets a 45-day ultimatum to cough up a whopping...

DYNAMOS’ LOVE FOR SANGOMAS (US$126,000) , BUT GHANAIAN PLAYERS LEFT HIGH AND DRY

DYNAMOS’ LOVE FOR SANGOMAS (US$126,000) , BUT GHANAIAN PLAYERS LEFT HIGH AND DRY

by Nyathi
May 30, 2025
0

In a shocking revelation, Dynamos FC has reportedly splurged a staggering US$126,000 on n'angas (traditional healers) over 126 matches, while...

Dynamos’ Debt Debacle -A FIFA Ban to Remember

Dynamos’ Debt Debacle -A FIFA Ban to Remember

by Nyathi
May 29, 2025
0

In a move that can only be described as a masterclass in poor financial management, Dynamos, one of Zimbabwe's most...

Farewell to a Legend -Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Emotional Goodbye

Farewell to a Legend -Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Emotional Goodbye

by Nyathi
May 26, 2025
0

  The Anfield crowd erupted in cheers and applause as Trent Alexander-Arnold took to the field for the final time...

Can Rúben  Amorim Deliver  ?

Can Rúben Amorim Deliver ?

by Nyathi
May 23, 2025
0

Manchester United's season has been a total mess! They're sitting in 16th place in the Premier League, with only 6...

Trending News Today

  • The Pilot Who Flew Under the Radar for 20 Years

    The Pilot Who Flew Under the Radar for 20 Years

    162 shares
    Share 65 Tweet 41
  • Susan Mutami’s Desperate Plea To Temba Mliswa

    317 shares
    Share 127 Tweet 79
  • Tragic Accident Claims Life of Young Man in Mbizo 7

    73 shares
    Share 29 Tweet 18
  • Tragic Incident in Dema Village Under Investigation

    70 shares
    Share 28 Tweet 18
  • Former Nssa Boss Acquitted of Fraud Charges

    65 shares
    Share 26 Tweet 16
  • Police Officer Arrested in Connection with Death in Custody

    51 shares
    Share 20 Tweet 13
  • Mai Titi Warns Against Misuse of Her Content

    50 shares
    Share 20 Tweet 13
  • Fake Certificates Exposed-Two Student Nurses Under Investigation

    50 shares
    Share 20 Tweet 13
  • Drama at a Funeral: Speaking Ill of the Dead Doesn’t Pay

    171 shares
    Share 68 Tweet 43
  • Charges Dropped, But Drama Continues

    77 shares
    Share 31 Tweet 19

Popular This Week

  • Susan Mutami’s Desperate Plea To  Temba  Mliswa

    Susan Mutami’s Desperate Plea To Temba Mliswa

    317 shares
    Share 127 Tweet 79
  • Two Zimbabwean Care Home Workers in the UK attacked, one killed

    201 shares
    Share 80 Tweet 50
  • GOVERNMENT BANS DEADLY MUSOMBODHIYA BREW

    179 shares
    Share 72 Tweet 45
  • ZEP Holders Breathe a Sigh of Relief as SCA Rules in Their Favor

    177 shares
    Share 71 Tweet 44
  • Drama at a Funeral: Speaking Ill of the Dead Doesn’t Pay

    171 shares
    Share 68 Tweet 43
  • The Pilot Who Flew Under the Radar for 20 Years

    162 shares
    Share 65 Tweet 41
  • Widow Caught in Bed With Lover a Week After Burying Husband

    236 shares
    Share 94 Tweet 59
  • Zimbabwean Woman Wanted in Botswana for Murder

    126 shares
    Share 50 Tweet 32
  • Police Officer Flees After Suspect’s Death

    110 shares
    Share 44 Tweet 28
  • Teyana Taylor Wins Big in Divorce Settlement

    107 shares
    Share 43 Tweet 27

Popular This Month

  • How to Legally Avoid Paying the US$92 ZBC Radio Licence Fee in Zimbabwe

    How to Legally Avoid Paying the US$92 ZBC Radio Licence Fee in Zimbabwe

    611 shares
    Share 244 Tweet 153
  • Bulawayo Police Bust Vuzu Party, Arrest 13 Youths

    328 shares
    Share 131 Tweet 82
  • Susan Mutami’s Desperate Plea To Temba Mliswa

    317 shares
    Share 127 Tweet 79
  • Unhealed Wounds-Remembering the 21 Mothers of Emkhonyeni Who Were Burnt Alive

    317 shares
    Share 127 Tweet 79
  • Fatal Dog Attack Exposes Mike Mupinga’s Troubling Past

    284 shares
    Share 114 Tweet 71
  • Loophole or Legal Gymnastics? Zimbabwean Schools Find Ways Around Fee Payment Rule

    250 shares
    Share 100 Tweet 63
  • New ‘ lobola’ Fees for Foreigners Seeking Medical Care in Gauteng

    244 shares
    Share 98 Tweet 61
  • Widow Caught in Bed With Lover a Week After Burying Husband

    236 shares
    Share 94 Tweet 59
  • Philanthropy or Publicity Stunt? Wicknell Chivayo’s Lavish Gift to Jah Prayzah’s Team

    219 shares
    Share 88 Tweet 55
  • Two Zimbabwean Care Home Workers in the UK attacked, one killed

    201 shares
    Share 80 Tweet 50

Most Read Stories

  • “Zimbabwe Is Discrediting SADC”

    ZANU PF Accused Of Bribing SADC Elders To Retain From Losing Power

    5241 shares
    Share 2096 Tweet 1310
  • Madzibaba gets Toyota Aqua after explaining new currency ZiG to church

    4534 shares
    Share 1814 Tweet 1134
  • Breaking News: Zimbabwe launches New Currency (Zig)

    4279 shares
    Share 1712 Tweet 1070
  • Guide : How to access 2023 Zimsec Ordinary O Level results online

    3973 shares
    Share 1589 Tweet 993
  • Uganda Police Officer Shoots Wife Dead After Mocking Him Over Man-U Loss

    3895 shares
    Share 1558 Tweet 974
  • Floods hit Gweru

    3594 shares
    Share 1438 Tweet 899
  • Mashura pa Gokwe musi wa 12.02.24

    3544 shares
    Share 1418 Tweet 886
  • Secret message for ED after his inauguration

    3482 shares
    Share 1393 Tweet 871
  • Heatwave Warning:Expect Extremely hot temp ranging from 36° to 41° until 12 March

    3394 shares
    Share 1358 Tweet 849
  • Here is the reckless Kombi Driver!!!!!!!!!!! See pics here

    3218 shares
    Share 1287 Tweet 805

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • FAQ
  • Terms of Service
  • Home

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News that Matters
    • News
    • Health and Diseases
    • Technology
    • Religion
    • Horror and Disaster
    • Elections 2023
  • Crime and Courts
  • Celebrity
  • Sports
  • Mjolo
  • Breaking News