Real Madrid won the Champions League for an 11th time as Cristiano Ronaldo scored the decisive penalty in the 5-3 shoot-out win over Atletico Madrid at the San Siro on Saturday.
Sergio Ramos gave Real the lead in the 15th minute but, after Antoine Griezmann smashed a penalty against the bar, substitute Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco made it 1-1 with 11 minutes remaining to send the game to extra-time.
Neither team could find a winner in the added 30 minutes as players on both sides tired, but the penalties were perfect until Juanfran hit the post with Atletico’s fourth attempt.
That gave Ronaldo the chance to win it and he fired home to give Real their second victory in the competition in the last three years, ripping off his shirt in celebration.
It is the 11th time Real have lifted the trophy – four more times than any other club – while Atletico have now been beaten three times in the final.
As expected, Ronaldo started for Real after overcoming an injury that forced him to leave a training session early in the week.
It was Real who started brighter and could have taken the lead after six minutes when Casemiro poked Bale’s free-kick goalwards, but Jan Oblak produced a brilliant point-blank save.
The Atletico keeper was beaten shortly afterwards, though, as Bale flicked on a free-kick and Ramos turned home from close range.
Despite seeing more of the ball, Atletico struggled to muster a response, playing at a sluggish pace and finding no space behind a compact Real defence.
Needing to change the tempo, Diego Simeone introduced Carrasco at the break.
Atletico should have equalised moments after the restart as Pepe clumsily fouled Fernando Torres in the box, but Griezmann fired the penalty against the crossbar.
Atletico continued to press and Stefan Savic turned just past the post from a corner before Saul Niguez volleyed wide from 12 yards out.
But Real resisted and should have doubled their lead, with Karim Benzema shooting at Oblak and Bale then having a shot blocked on the line.
Moments later, Atletico levelled as Juanfran volleyed a first-time cross into the middle and Carrasco turned in from six yards out, running to kiss his girlfriend after picking her out in the crowd.
The momentum seemed to be with Atletico but Real went close before the final whistle as Bale headed over from a corner.
Ronaldo also missed the target with a header from close range in extra-time while Bale had a goal-bound shot blocked.
Neither team could find a winner in the added 30 minutes as the players tired, with a number going down with cramp.
The first seven penalties were all scored but then Juanfran struck the post and Ronaldo scored to seal yet another European victory for Real. – Sky Sports.
