It was Undecima for Real Madrid as they overcame a spirited Atletico side through 120 minutes and penalty shoot-outs to once again claim bragging rights to call themselves the greatest team in Europe.
The San Siro has played centre-stage to many a fiesty Milan Derby over the years. However, it played host tonight to a Madrid derby in the biggest stage of European club football. In a final that didn’t have too much to offer in the course of normal and extra-time aside the goals, penalties were employed to decide which half of Madrid the trophy would make it’s way to. Sergio Ramos and Yannick Carrasco both scored either side of a Antoine Griezmann penalty miss as the game ended level at normal time. With no significant goal-mouth action in extra-time, the ensuing penalty shoot-out saw everyone except Juanfran find the net as Ronaldo scored the decisive penalty to hand Real their 11th Champions League crown.
It was second time unlucky for Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid as the Los Rojiblancos suffered two Champions League final losses in three years to their cross-town rivals. Having dispatched the likes of Barcelona, Bayern and Real themselves through the course of the 2015/16 season, Atletico were primed to lift their first trophy, on third time of asking, at Milan tonight. However, it capped off a fairytale return to top-level club football for Zinedine Zidane, who was only appointed six months ago as manager of the Los Blancos.
Ramos scored the first of the game in the 15th minute off a free-kick that saw the defender alter the direction of Bale’s header to put it past Oblak in goal for Atletico. The goal however was subject to discussion on social media over it’s legitimacy with doubts being cast on whether Ramos was off-side and as to whether he actually got a touch on the ball or not.
Goal! Captain Ramos with the goal! #HalaMadrid #SR4
— Ed ⚽ (@iDonkeyPunchHoe) May 28, 2016
Kroos FK to Bale’s backward header to Ramos inside the 6 yard to score RM 1st goal tonight
— Real Madrid Info (@RMadridInfo) May 28, 2016
Sergio Ramos get another header goal against these guys!!! I don’t want to see a single yellow card!!!
— Rey (@ReyLaMadrid) May 28, 2016
1 – Sergio Ramos scored the 1st CL goal since the final 2014 vs. Atletico. Deja-vus. #realatletico
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) May 28, 2016
Amazing coincidence that backers of Gareth Bale first goal have developed superhuman vision and can confirm Ramos didn’t get a touch! 😉
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) May 28, 2016
Our guys at the studio has analyzed the Real-goal. Ramos was 23 cm offside…
— Jan Aage Fjortoft (@JanAageFjortoft) May 28, 2016
A decisive moment in the game was when Antoine Griezmann, Atletico’s star player in the competition, missed his penalty in what was a glorious opportunity to equalize for Simeone’s men. Had the Frenchman sent the ball into the back of the net, Carrasco’s goal late in the game would have proved to be the winner for the Rojiblancos. Instead ,the forward was left to ponder on what could have been as twitter reacted to the same.
Griezmann’s penalty miss is met by #RMCF fans in jubilation. Chants of ‘We wish you’d attended the Angels of Death Metal gig’ echo around
— Jamie Scoins (@Jamie_Scoins) May 28, 2016
Asamoah Gyan – Antoinne Griezmann. Same initials, Same penalty miss, Played first penalty shootout, Lost on penalties, Cried.
Illuminati.. ?— #Greatthingsfollowme (@i_am_RYHTEOUS) May 28, 2016
Asamoah Gyan and Antoine Griezmann have the same initials (A.G). So dat might explain the penalty miss..
Robert Mugabe
*5 mins ago*
?????— Ameyaw Debrah (@ameyaw112) May 28, 2016
I like that from Simeone. Having a chat with Griezmann after his penalty miss.
— Tom Coast (@thcoast) May 28, 2016
1 – Antoine Griezmann is the first player to miss a penalty in the #UCLfinal since Arjen Robben in 2012. Blooper.
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) May 28, 2016
With Atletico set for another disappointing defeat at the hand of their bitter rivals in a European final, substitute Yannck Ferreira Carrasco became the first Belgian to score in a Champions League as he brought his side level on the night. However it was his goal celebration that attracted massive attention on social media.
Yannick Carrasco’s girlfriend Noémie Happart goes viral after goal celebration #viral
— Trendborg (@trendborg) May 28, 2016
Carrasco scores and runs off to snog his missus. At least I hope it is.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 28, 2016
My man of the Match Yannick Carrasco #uclfinal
— God_First (@Mattygodfirst) May 28, 2016
Sturrigde danced
Pardew danced
Carrasco kissed his girl..
Moral lesson..Don’t do anything when you score in a final.
Just walk back.— KvngBRAINARD (@KvngBRAINARD) May 28, 2016
The best thing in tonight’s game was when Carrasco celebrate his goal with a world class kiss with his girlfriend ???.
— Ljubomir Vranjes (@LVranjes) May 28, 2016
Carrasco is proof that you play better when your girl is watching.
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) May 28, 2016
The game then went into extra-time and eventually into penalties. A nervy shoot-out eventually culminated in Juanfran missing his spot-kick and Ronaldo converting the decisive one to send Real Madrid fans into delirium. Jan Oblak has been sensational all season for Atletico and even tonight’s match prior to the shoot-out. The goalkeeper however received much criticism for his performance in the penalty shoot-out.
17 goals in 2013/14.
16 goals this season.
Why do people still find a way to berate Ronaldo? Why can’t he simply celebrate a #UCL win?— Röhith Nair (@RohithNair) May 28, 2016
Ronaldo didn’t perform well in the final, but you have to admire his mentality to take that penalty. He’ll leave as a legend and a King.
— Liam Canning (@OffsideLiam) May 28, 2016
Ronaldo was the worst player on the pitch, but he’ll be remembered as the man who scored the winning penalty. Winner mentality
— Luna (@Ancelottied) May 28, 2016
Christ, watching those penalties back Oblak really was awful. Didn’t even move for three of them.
— Rich Laverty (@RichJLaverty) May 28, 2016
I think Oblak’s PS4 controller died
— Wayne Kerr (@MajorWayneKerr) May 28, 2016
Manager Reactions
Zinedine Zidane
Becoming the seventh man to win the Champions League as player and coach, it was a special night for manager Zinedine Zidane, who was appointed in January as a replacement to Rafa Benitez and has turned the club’s season around ever since. He lauded his players for a spirited performance on the night and was quoted as saying, “Physically we suffered quite a bit, but that’s normal. Mentally it’s a lot of pressure that you have to bear. In the end you have to fight and that’s what we did. When you win something as big as the Champions League, it means a lot – for the players and the technical staff.”
“I dreamt of this – I’m very positive. When the president gave me this chance, with this group of players … when you have players of this calibre, with this talent, you can achieve something big like we did tonight.”
“I’m happy because I’ve been part of this great club for a long time now, first as a player, then as assistant and now as head coach. I’m really very proud to be in this great family.”
The Frenchman also credited Atletico and Diego Simeone for their performance on the night when he stated,”Both teams got to the very end – the penalties went our way but could easily have gone the other. Congratulations to Atlético and Simeone. He’s a great coach, but of course I’m happy with this victory”
Diego Simeone
Meanwhile the Rojiblancos boss was left to rue his side’s failure to put away a number of chances as his side faltered at the grand final of the European competition yet another time. He said,”It puts a lot of years on you. Firstly, congratulations to Real Madrid – once again they were superior to us, this time at penalties. We started the game badly, then we got ourselves organised from the 20th or 25th minute.”
“In the second half we could have equalised very quickly, but our intention was clear. We had the capacity to attack. Both teams had chances. We managed to get to 1-1 and then in extra time both teams were very tired. No one remembers who lost – losing two finals is a failure. We have to get over this and heal our wounds.”
“Now what I have to do is go back home and try to heal the wounds with the people who are always supporting me. You do your best, you do everything you can – but you get to two finals and lose them both. Getting to two finals in three years is a great achievement for Atlético, but I can’t be happy with what I’ve achieved.”
