*For Ancelotti, it is fifth win as coach
Real Madrid rode their luck and overcame an outstanding challenge from Borussia Dortmund to win the Champions League at Wembley.
Carlo Ancelotti wrote more history with his fifth win as coach in the competition, while Real claimed the crown for the 15th time in trademark fashion as they survived a torrid first half and several missed opportunities from Dortmund before coming out on top.
Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi missed two first-half chances and striker Niclas Fullkrug hit the post, with recalled Real keeper Thibaut Courtois also providing a formidable barrier.
Real, inevitably, raised the stakes, with Dani Carvajal glancing home a header from a corner 16 minutes from time before Vinicius Jr raced clear on to Jude Bellingham’s pass to add a second nine minutes later.
It crowned a glorious first season at Real for England’s Bellingham, but it was a night of disappointment for compatriot Jadon Sancho, who is on loan to Dortmund from Manchester United.
Real Madrid’s late surge to claim another victory in Europe’s elite tournament carried an air of inevitability as they proved they are a ruthless winning machine when it comes to the Champions League.
As they have done previously in the competition this season, and in seasons before, Real stumbled along in the first half as they were pinned back by the intensity of Borussia Dortmund’s approach.
Real barely put together an attack worthy of the name while hanging on by the skin of their teeth at the other end, with Dortmund creating chances but crucially wasting them.
When that happens, as Liverpool and others have found before them in Champions League finals, there is normally only one outcome.
Match-winner Vinicius Jr was surrounded after the victory
And so it proved as Real, with keeper Courtois fully justifying Ancelotti’s decision to pick him ahead of Andriy Lunin, picked up a head of steam to strike those two late blows to the heart of brave Borussia.
Many will wonder quite how Real Madrid do it when they seem out of sorts so often. But muscle memory kicks in with these great players, as the departing Toni Kroos, Carvajal, Nacho and late substitute Luka Modric claimed Champions League winners’ medals for the sixth time.
As for the peerless Ancelotti, as impassive as ever, he continued his incredible record at the helm of this great club.
It was a quiet night for Bellingam, who missed a big chance before setting up Vinicius Jr for the second. But what a campaign he has had since joining Real from Dortmund.
England will hope this sets up their young superstar perfectly for Euro 2024.
BBC/Simeon Ugbodovon
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