Toni Kroos (34, Real Madrid) was the hero of the ‘last dance’.
Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League final of the 2023-2024 season at Wembley Stadium in London, England, at 4 a.m. ET on Sunday.
Real Madrid won the Champions League for the 15th time in its history. Dortmund tasted a bittersweet runner-up finish at the same venue as 11 years earlier.
Real Madrid lined up in a diamond 4-4-2 formation. Vinicius Junior-Hodriga was up front, with Jude Bellingham at the top of the second line and Edouard Kamabinga, Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde in the middle. Per Mendy-Antonio Rüdiger-Nacho Fernandez-Dani Carvajal formed the back four, with Thibaut Courtois in goal.
Dortmund pulled out a 4-2-3-1 formation. Niklas Fulkruk was the lone striker up front, while Karim Adeyemi, Julian Brandt, and Jadon Sancho formed the attacking two. Marcel Xavier-Emre Can protected the back four, while Ian Mattesen, Nico Schlatterbeck, 스포츠토토 Mats Hummels and Julian Lüersson formed a back four. Gregor Kovel was in goal.
Dortmund created the first chance.
In the 14th minute, Schlotterbeck’s one-timed pass was collected by Pilkruk in the box and passed to an onrushing Brandt from behind. Brandt fired a right-footed shot that went wide right of the goal.
Dortmund had the decisive chance. In the 21st minute, Hummels found the penetrating Adeyemi with a perfect pass, and Adeyemi was instantly one-on-one. Goalkeeper Courtois quickly popped up and pressured him. Adeyemi beat Courtois and fired a shot that Carvajal got a body to save.
In the 23rd minute, Dortmund were disappointed again. Pilkruk fired a quick shot from inside the box after being played through by Matthsen. The ball went past Courtois, but the ball hit the post and went out.
In the 28th minute, Real threatened once more through Vinicius on the flank, but Dortmund used Adeyemi’s pace to get another shot on target. Courtois made a good save and Pilkruk’s header was cleared off the line, but this time he couldn’t find the back of the net.
Dortmund created another chance. In the 41st minute, Xavier picked up the ball in an open space in the center of the box and immediately struck a right-footed mid-range shot. The ball was headed for the bottom corner of the goal, but Courtois was there to punch it away.
The first half ended 0-0.
Three minutes into the second half, Real earned a free kick in a good position. A cross from the left side of the box was headed towards the corner of the goal, but Kovel got down to make the save.
Real capitalized on the opportunity. In the 12th minute of the second half, Carvajal picked up the ball in the box and unleashed a fierce right-footed shot that Kovacs was able to parry away.
Dortmund came up short. In the 18th minute, Adeyemi’s cross from the left flank was met by a diving header from Pilkruk that was saved by Courtois.
Dortmund were the first to make a substitution. In the 27th minute, Adeyemi was sent to the bench in favor of Marco Reus.
It was Real Madrid who took the lead. In the 29th minute, Carvajal headed in a corner kick from the right side of the box that rattled the Dortmund net.
Real pushed for more. In the 32nd minute, Kamabinga broke down the left flank and crossed to an unmarked Bellingham. Bellingham had a perfect chance in front of goal, but his shot was tipped over the bar by Schlotterbeck.
In the end, Real added an insurance goal.
In the 38th minute, Matthsen made a costly passing error and Vinicius capitalized on the opportunity to score with a pinpoint shot.
Five minutes of stoppage time were awarded. The game ended with a 2-0 victory for Real.
Kroos, who started the game and played around 85 minutes, had a perfect game. He had 108 touches of the ball, had two shots on goal, 토토사이트 순위 completed 97% of his passes (91/94), created four chances, won one tackle, and recovered five balls, while controlling the midfield.
Kroos himself helped lead Real Madrid to their 15th title, directly assisting on Carvajal’s opener that led to the game-winner. It was the perfect ‘last dance’ for Kroos.