Conclusion at Wembley Stadium - Championship horror: Dortmund falls short in Champions League finale
The dream of Champions League victory for Borussia Dortmund came crashing down in a disappointing manner. They showed strong performance and had numerous opportunities to score, but ultimately lost to the favorite team and 15-time title holder Real Madrid with a score of 0:2 (0:0) on Saturday night at the Wembley Stadium in London. Over 86,212 spectators were present to witness the game.
Despite put uping a good fight, Dortmund had to endure several setbacks. The decisive goals for Madrid, which had been lacking until then, were scored by Daniel Carvajal in the 74th minute and Vinícius Júnior in the 83rd minute.
Toni Kroos, the German national player for Real Madrid, won the Champions League for the sixth time in his career. This makes him one of the record holders for the most significant European club title. Kroos, who is 34 years old, was substituted out towards the end of the game and was met with loud cheers from the Real fans (86th). In contrast, Marco Reus, who was playing his last game for Borussia Dortmund, did not achieve the much-awaited trophy for the team.
Dortmund started the match impressively. Fans in the stadium performed a captivating choreography to welcome their team. Thousands more watched the first half hour of the game live at home in Dortmund through public viewings. The outsider Borussia Dortmund seemed determined to make something "spectacular" as their coach Edin Terzic had hoped beforehand.
Julian Brandt had an opportunity to score in the penalty area of Real (14th) and Karim Adeyemi, who had not been selected for the national team by Julian Nagelsmann for the upcoming European Championship, could have scored twice in the first half. However, he missed the ball too far from the goal by Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (21st) and was again denied by Courtois when he made a sprint against Carvajal (28th).
The defending champion Real was barely visible in front of the Dortmund penalty area, a common occurrence given the forceful style of play from manager Carlo Ancelotti's team. It seemed like Dortmund was more ambitious than what Real had expected. However, Kroos, who rarely makes mistakes, missed a pass that led to a chance for Dortmund through Marcel Sabitzer, which Courtois had to clear again (41st).
The halftime score of 0:0 was a major setback for Dortmund, despite them creating many moments of brilliance. In comparison, Real was almost invisible in the game, which is not unusual considering their previous strong performances against FC Bayern (2:2/2:1).
The magic touch of Jürgen Klopp, who was considered a good luck charm for Dortmund, could not help them either. Despite being the former Borussia Dortmund coach when they last lost the Champions League final at the same location against Bayern, Klopp was unable to make a difference. The final decision, which fell shortly before the end, was made in favor of Real.
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- Despite the disappointing outcome, Borussia Dortmund's performance in the Champions League final in London was reminiscent of their strong showings in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Karim Adeyemi, a promising talent from Dortmund, had multiple chances to score against Real Madrid, much like how he has often performed in German soccer matches.
- Toni Kroos, a native of Germany and a key player for Real Madrid, had a significant impact in the Champions League final, just as he did during their previous victories in Spain.
- Edin Terzic, the coach of Borussia Dortmund, had high hopes for the team, hoping they would make a spectacular impact in the Champions League just like they often do in night games.
- Nicolas Füllkrug, a prominent figure in German soccer, was not a part of the Borussia Dortmund team that played in the Champions League final, similar to how he was not selected for the German national team.
- The Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London was a challenging night for Borussia Dortmund, much like how they have faced numerous setbacks in their past matches against Real Madrid in Spain.
- Real Madrid's defense, led by Daniel Carvajal, was resilient throughout the Champions League final, much like how they have been a strong force in past Champions League finals in Spain.
- Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper for Real Madrid, was a formidable opponent in the Champions League final, much like how he has been a key player in major soccer matches in Europe.
- Borussia Dortmund's loss in the Champions League final was a nightmare for their fans, much like how the team's past losses have been a source of disappointment.
- Vinícius Júnior, a star player for Real Madrid, scored a crucial goal in the Champions League final, much like how he has been a standout performer in past matches in Spain.
- Marco Reus, a respected figure in German soccer, could not lead Borussia Dortmund to victory in the Champions League final, much like how he has faced challenges in past major soccer matches.
- Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of the German national team, watched the Champions League final with a sense of disappointment, much like how he has often faced challenges in major soccer matches in Europe.
