Champions League Real\\\'s
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Real Madrid became champions of Europe when they beat city rivals 4-1 in the final of the Champions League in Lisbon early Sunday morning (Bangladesh Standard Time). They secured a 10th European Cup when they snatched a stoppage-time equaliser before extra-time goals by Gareth Bale, Marcelo and a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty. Rivals Atletico Madrid, who won the Spanish league title a week ago, looked set to complete a double after Diego Godin’s 36th-minute header, helped by a blunder from Real keeper Iker Casillas, put them in control of the first European final between teams from the same city. Real attacked relentlessly in the second half at Lisbon’s Stadium of Light but had to wait until the third minute of stoppage time for an equaliser when Sergio Ramos headed in powerfully from a corner. Gareth Bale put Real ahead in the 110th minute after missing a hat-trick of chances earlier to almost end Real’s 12-year wait for La Decima. Marcelo, who came in as a substitute, drove a low shot through the left arm of the plunging Courtois to put the game beyond their rivals in the 118th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty two minutes later when Diego Godin, who gave Atlético the lead, for tripping the Portuguese. Ramos brought the Los Blancos back from the dead with just over a minute remaining. The defender peeled away from his marker and planted a powerful header right into the bottom corner from Luka Modric's outswinging corner. Atlético went ahead in the 36th minute when Godin scored from a Koke corner after a mix up in defence. Atletico looked a spent force in extra time and Real completed the comeback win when Bale headed them into the lead in the 110th minute before Marcelo slammed in a late third. Ronaldo, the Portugal captain playing in his own capital city, scored the fourth from the penalty spot to clinch an astonishing turnaround and a double of Champions League and King's Cup after Real could only finish third in La Liga. Atletico took the lead when their city rivals failed to clear a corner and they hooked the ball back into the box, according to a news agency.