- Macdara Ferris
- Sat, May 28 2022
Macdara Ferris reports from the Stade de France
It was a Champions League final that Liverpool dominated and so they will have deep regrets about the result as it was very much one that got away in Paris.
The talk ahead of the game was the battle down one side between Vinicius Junior and Trent Alexander-Arnold and it was the Real winger who proved the match winner on 59 minutes although Thibaut Courtois had a big hand in earning Los Blancos their 14th European Cup crown with a series of stunning saves throughout the game
The biggest game in world football had an embarrassing delayed kick off to it at the Stade de France on Saturday evening.
The Champions League final was moved from St. Petersburg to Paris due the conflict in Ukraine but the new venue struggled with fan congestion which meant there was large sections of empty seats in the Liverpool end when the original 9pm kick off time came around.
There were reports of chaotic scenes outside the ground as fans waited to get through the security checks and despite the delay UEFA stuck with their pre-match opening ceremony.
Camilla Cabello’s singing and fireworks from pitchside and on the roof filled the inside of the stadium as fans were still trying to get in.
Liverpool supporters certainly had the bulk of the spectators in the stadium with two thirds of the crowd by the time the game kicked off 36 minutes late. And it was the Reds who really should have had the lead at the break – and a two goal lead at that.
They had a five minutes spell that they were only shut out by the brilliance of the Real Madrid goalkeeper. The Real supporters behind Thibaut Courtois’ goal were thankful for his reflexes on 16 minutes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold went on a jinking run and Mo Salah swept his cut back on target only for Courtois to get down low to turn it away. Then in quick succession Thiago, Mo Salah and Thiago again got shots away.
On the mid-way point of the half Courtois pulled off his best save as Mane’s effort, off a Thiago pass, was pushed onto the post and away by the big Belgian shotstopper.
Their opponents were looking to use the pace of Vinicius Junior on the left flank with Liverpool deploying Ibrahima Konate further right to provide support to Alexander-Arnold in defending the speedy Real winger.
As expected Liverpool pressed their opponents but Luca Modric and Toni Kroos were always good enough when receiving the ball in deeper areas to keep possession with their team.
Fabinho tried his luck from distance while Mo Salah couldn’t direct his header wide of Courtois.
Just on half time, it looked like Real had the lead as Karim Benzema finished by Alison Becker at the second attempt.
Having had a delayed kick off, we then had a lengthy VAR review on whether Benzema was offside or had to ball come to him off Fabinho. Eventually the French referee Clement Turpin ruled the goal out and we went in at the break scoreless.
When Alexander-Arnold drilled a cross in front of the Real goal, Courtois was on hand to punch clear with Thiago in close attention.
The deadlock was broken just before the hour mark and it was completely against the run of play.
Federico Valverde went raiding down the right, checked inside hit a drilled pass to the backpost where Alexander-Arnold lost Vincius Junior who was on hand to slot home with his right foot inside the six yard box to momentarily stun the Reds supporters.
Liverpool looked to hit back quickly as, two minutes later, Salah’s shot needed to be pushed away with a strong hand by Courtois diving full length to his right.
On 69 minutes a looping header from Diogo Jota came to Salah at the back post who flicked the ball on target only for Courtois to get a boot to clear.
With ten minutes remaining he was on hand to push Salah’s deflected effort around the post and then with Salah getting on to a ball over top, he stuck an arm out to save the Egyptian striker’s vicious shot.
The Reds laid siege to the Real goal trying desperately to find the equaliser and take the game into extra-time which would have seen the clock go by midnight in the stadium. Ultimately time ran out on the Red and victory, thanks to Vinicius Junior, went to Real Madrid.
Liverpool: Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Jordan Henderson © (Naby Keita 77), Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara (Roberto Firmino 77); Mo Salah, Sadio Mané, Luis Diaz (Diogo Jota 65).
Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones, Joel Matip, Harvey Elliott, James Milner.
Booked: None.
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Daniel Carvajal, Éder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric (Dani Ceballos 90), Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Fede Valverde (Eduardo Camavinga 85),, Karim Benzema ©, Vinicius (Rodrygo 90+2).
Subs not used: Andriy Lunin, Marcelo, Nacho, Isco, Lucas Vázquez, Eden Hazard, Mariano Díaz, Gareth Bale.
Booked: Fabinho (61).
Referee: Clement Turpin (France)
Attendance: 80,000 (estimate)
extratime.com Player of the Match: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
