IT just had to be Cristiano Ronaldo.
He had a poor game last night in the San Siro but when it mattered most there
he was to take centre stage and slot home the winning penalty.
After 120 minutes of pulsating football, this Champions League final was
decided by the lottery of a shootout.
And after seven quality kicks — including one from a calm-as-you-like Gareth
Bale — Atletico winger Juanfran hit the post.
So the script was set for Ronaldo to fire home and win Real Madrid their
ELEVENTH European Cup.
He showed nerves of steel to beat Jan Oblak from 12 yards with a perfect
penalty.
To be honest, Real were the better team and, just like two years ago in
Lisbon, they were to beat their city rivals in an epic. In that final it was
their captain Sergio Ramos who struck in the last minute of the game to
force extra-time and cruelly deny Atletico their first European Cup.
But this time it was Atletico who came back from the dead to so nearly write
themselves into the Champions League history books.
All-action defender Ramos had pounced to put Real ahead after just 15 minutes.
And quite how Real had not wrapped up the game long before sub Yannick
Carrasco finished off a classic Atletico counter-attack with 11 minutes of
normal time to go is anyone’s guess.
Karim Benzema, Ronaldo and Bale all looked bankers to score — but either
fluffed their lines or were denied by some brilliant defending or
goalkeeping.
It would have been interesting to have been a fly on the wall in the Atletico
dressing room at half-time.
But whatever was said, they finally turned up to make this a memorable final
after their passive opening 45 minutes.
Zinedine Zidane’s men were by far the better team in the first half, playing
with a swagger and almost arrogance.
And it was no surprise that they got their noses in front early on.
Bale — who impressed last night and looks in great form going to Euro 2016
with Wales — was right at the centre of it.
He got a cheeky flick-on to Toni Kroos’ free-kick for Ramos to turn in from
close range.
It proved a controversial moment as English linesman Simon Beck — assisting
Premier League ref Mark Clattenburg — failed to spot Ramos had strayed into
an offside position. Bale was almost certainly Real’s best player last night
and England should be afraid, very afraid of him, when the two teams meet in
Lens at Euro 2016 on June 16.
Real started on the front foot and won a free-kick when Gabi just clipped
Bale.
The Welshman whipped it in brilliantly low and Casemiro was there to meet it
just six yards out — but it was saved by the superb reflexes of keeper
Oblak.
Just moments before Diego Godin was in the right place at the right time to
intercept a dangerous Ronaldo cross.
Then Ramos struck with his first Champions League goal since scoring that
famous last-minute equaliser in the 2014 final between these teams in
Lisbon.
The Spaniard also became the first defender to score in two separate Champions
League finals.
Madrid were bossing the game, although Ronaldo — who shrugged off a thigh
strain — was uncharacteristically quiet as the game reached the break. The
second half took no time to burst into life as Clattenburg awarded Atletico
a penalty when Pepe virtually barged into Fernando Torres.
Keeper Navas was booked for gamesmanship as he wasted time ahead of the
penalty and Griezmann hit the bar with his spot-kick.
Diego Simeone’s men really had upped a few gears in the second half and yet
Real should have put the game beyond sight with 20 minutes left when Ronaldo
sent Benzema clear.
But Oblak rushed out to narrow the angle and Benzema struck his shot straight
at the keeper.
Bale then thought he had the game in the bag but saw his angled shot cleared
off the line.
Those misses proved disastrous for Real as Atletico got themselves level with
11 minutes left as sub Carrasco converted Juanfran’s cross to earn
extra-time.
That failed to split the sides, so the stage was set — and as usual Ronaldo
played the starring role. For Zidane, last night completed a Champions
League hat-trick at Milan.
Having won it by scoring a winning volley against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002,
the Frenchman lifted it as assistant to Carlo Ancelotti when Madrid
triumphed again two years ago.
There were many who doubted Zidane when he was promoted to first-team coach in
January.
Yet in less than five months he has guided Real to Champions League glory.
Take a bow, Mr Zidane.
Tweet @justinallen1976
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
REAL MADRID: Navas 6, Carvajal 6 (Danilo 52, 6), Ramos 7, Pepe 5,
Marcelo 8, Casemiro 7, STAR MAN MODRIC 9, Kroos 6 (Isco 72, 7), Bale 8,
Benzema 6 (Vazquez 77, 6), Ronaldo 7. Subs not used: Nacho, Rodriguez,
Casilla, Jese. Booked: Navas, Carvajal, Danilo, Pepe, Ramos, Casemiro.
ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak 7, Juanfran 7, Savic 7, Godin 6, Filipe Luis 8
(Hernandez 109, 6), Saul Niguez 7, Gabi 8, Fernandez 6 (Carrasco 45, 7),
Koke 8 (Partey 116, 6), Griezmann 6, Torres 5. Subs not used: Moya Rumbo,
Tiago, Gimenez de Vargas, Correa. Booked: Gabi, Torres.
(Dream Team ratings are compiled using Opta data)
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