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The problem people have with luck, as a concept, is that we can’t hold it, we can’t touch it, we can’t wrap ourselves in it.
But sometimes you can see it, and many of those times you are probably watching Real Madrid .
As the saying goes you do make your own luck to an extent and Madrid have been a side who have suffered variance going against them this season in La Liga . On this night in Kiev, though, the toast most certainly landed mantequilla side up.
Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratingsShow all 23 1 /23Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Keylor Navas - 7 out of 10 Punched clear an early Liverpool shot and got down well to deny Alexander-Arnold’s strike. Should have acted more decisively for Mane’s goal. Solid performance in all.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Dani Carvajal - 3 out of 10 Forced off early with an injury. Prior to then, his notable contribution to the match was a wild cross-field pass to Sergio Ramos that ended up rolling out for a Liverpool corner.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Sergio Ramos - 7 out of 10 As ever, asserted his physicality well from the back – as seen with his challenge on Salah. Put in an important interception to deny Mane a second around 70 minutes.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Raphael Varane - 7 out of 10 Followed his captain’s lead. A solid force at the back.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Marcelo - 7 out of 10 Dangerous when roaming inwards. Misplaced a few passes but provided assist for Gareth Bale’s stunning volley.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Toni Kroos - 7 out of 10 A strong first half in particular, completing more passes than anyone else on the pitch. Kept Liverpool away from the ball in the second 45 minutes.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Casemiro - 6 out of 10 Not as smooth an operator as his midfield teammates but still played an integral role.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Luka Modric - 8 out of 10 Barely noticed him – which is exactly what he’s there for. Kept Real’s midfield ticking over smoothly with his tidy and slick passing. The footballing equivalent of an electric engine.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Isco - 5 out of 10 Missed a golden opportunity after the restart, hitting the crossbar instead. Failed to properly get going and was replaced just after the hour mark by Bale.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Gareth Bale - 8 out of 10 (substitute) The hero of the match. Scored arguably one of the best goals ever in a Champions League final to put Real back in front before killing off the game with a second. Showed his class and worth to Real.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Cristiano Ronaldo - 6 out of 10 Failed to have the same effect as he did in last year’s final. Had the opportunity to put the game to bed but, under pressure from Robertson, failed to find the target.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Karim Benzema - 7 out of 10 Smart and shrewd in clinching Real’s first. Not pretty in the slightest – not that’ll he mind. An industrious performance.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Loris Karius - 1 out of 10 A calamity. Essentially handed Real victory with two mistakes that shouldn't be made at this level. The less said about them the better. The German will be feeling the pain of defeat more than anyone else in this Liverpool side. It's important now he gets the necessary support he'll need moving forward.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6 out of 10 Hit a stinging strike inside Madrid’s box that was blocked by Navas. Got forward well and held his nerve in the biggest game of his career to date.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Dejan Lovren - 6 out of 10 Mixed performance. At times he read the game well and put in some important interceptions but this was offset against the occasional mistake. Faded away in confidence.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Virgil van Dijk - 7 out of 10 Calm and composed for much of the game. Held his line well to catch Real out with offside on a number of occasions. Not much he could do about the goals.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Andy Robertson - 7 out of 10 Looked comfortable up against Real’s front line. Showed real heart and desire with a last-ditch tackle to stop Ronaldo from scoring.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Jordan Henderson - 7 out of 10 Marshalled Liverpool’s midfield well to ensure the side maintained their high press for the first 60 minutes of the game. Never stopped running and did the basics well.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings James Milner - 6 out of 10 Worked his socks off but flew under the radar somewhat.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Georginio Wijnaldum - 6 out of 10 Stepped in for the injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Injected a degree of energy to Liverpool’s midfield and worked hard in the press. Another player to fade away.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Mohamed Salah - 4 out of 10 The winger’s evening was brought to an early end in heart-breaking fashion after being fouled by Sergio Ramos. Up until that point the Egyptian had had little say on the match.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Roberto Firmino - 5 out of 10 Went missing for far too much of the match. Failed to deliver on the main stage.
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Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League final - player ratings Sadio Mane - 7 out of 10 A case of right time, right place for the forward, who met Lovren’s header with a close-range volley to draw Liverpool level. Later hit the post. Stepped up in Salah’s absence.
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The injury to Mohamed Salah in the first half is sad from a neutral point of view but for Madrid, who had been torn apart by the Egyptian in a 2016 Champions League quarter-final against Roma, it was the lucky break they needed.
After all, Liverpool were the better team for the first half an hour. They had 56 touches in the attacking third compared to Madrid’s 21. It wasn’t even a debate who was more likely to score.
But after Salah was substituted on 31 minutes they were shell-shocked. Lacking in ideas, they touched the ball just once in the offensive third before the break. In that same period Real Madrid managed an incredible 65.
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League finalShow all 12 1 /12Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
Mohamed Salah injured in Champions League final
The evening flipped in that moment, though the game flipped when Loris Karius gifted Madrid their opener. Karim Benzema’s street smarts can take as much credit for that opener as good luck, but it was the sort of incident that is so rare, so improbable, that it does seem like a fortuitous bolt from the blue.
There was little luck involved in Gareth Bale’s incredible winning goal, though a lot in his second strike which ultimately ended this game as a contest with Karius letting another disastrous goal in.
But can you really call them lucky? Because to put yourself in the situation where you can win the Champions League is to earn every ounce, every microgram of good fortune that comes your way. Now imagine doing that twice in a row, three times in a row, four times in five years.
Champions League final: The story of the game - in picturesShow all 37 1 /37Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final The Champions League trophy
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final The opening ceremony to the final
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Dua Lipa during her performance before kick-off
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Andriy Shevchenko unveils the Champions League trophy
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Dua Lipa during her performance before kick-off
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final The two teams line up ahead of kick-off
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final An injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks on from the sidelines
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool's starting XI
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid's starting XI
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool fans get into the swing of things
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Trent Alexander-Arnold is put under pressure from Marcelo
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after missing a chance
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Karim Benzema celebrates his goal before it was disallowed for offside
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Mohamed Salah leaves the pitch in tears due to injury
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Dani Carvajal leaves the pitch in tears due to injury
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Keylor Navas tangles with Liverpool's forward men
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Georginio Wijnaldum attempts to bring the ball under control
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Isco gets away from Trent Alexander-Arnold
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Marcelo clashes with Dejan Lovren
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Roberto Firmino attempts to shield the ball
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Karim Benzema pounced as Loris Karius released the ball to put Real ahead
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Karim Benzema celebrates his goal
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Sadio Mane drew Liverpool level from close quarters
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Sadio Mane celebrates his equaliser
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Luka Modric winds up for a shot on goal
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Gareth Bale scored one of the greatest goals in a European final to put Real back in front
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Gareth Bale celebrates his stunning volley
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final A second Loris Karius mistake handed Real their third goal of the evening
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid celebrate their third goal
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final A fan who ran onto the pitch is tackled by staff as Ronaldo takes a shot on goal
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool's players look on after defeat
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Loris Karius asks for forgiveness from Liverpool's fans after the final whistle
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Jordan Henderson reacts after defeat
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Gareth Bale celebrates victory after the final whistle
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid are crowned champions of Europe for the third year in a row
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It has been so easy to watch Real Madrid over the past few seasons and conclude they’re not really that outstanding a team but what they achieve, in silverware terms, then marks them out as one of the greatest football teams to have played the game.
That paradox is difficult to unpick. The success is difficult to explain. The answer may be luck but it’s also hard work, talent and a financial advantage that is the envy of the footballing world.
And after a while it is impossible to keep ascribing these trophies to good fortune. We must appreciate Real Madrid for what they are, an unstoppable winning machine who will go down in history
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