Tears and tear gas as Los Blancos triumph in Paris.
Real Madrid seal their 14th Champions League victory as it’s heartbreak for the Reds.
Real Madrid seal their 14th Champions League victory as it’s heartbreak for the Reds.
Commencing this article at the witching hour of midnight, just an hour or so after Liverpool’s 1–0 defeat this evening, is with the heaviest of hearts. Alas tonight was simply not meant to be and such is sport and such is life. There will be recriminations and no doubt strong yet puff public statements released from UEFA as to the shambolic way a huge number of Liverpool fans were treated at the turnstiles pre kick-off and I expect a UEFA statement giving a very firm Establishment perspective that “late fans” were again responsible. The early evidence suggests this to be an incredible slur (again) on the travelling Liverpool supporters, but whichever way you cut it, and again this is being written just after Real Madrid left the Stade de France pitch with the prized trophy of “Old Big Ears” for the 14th time, pepper spray and tear gas has no place in a civilised society and certainly not on families and children and ticket holders for arguably the biggest football spectacle in the world.
The modern game of football, as well as every other sport you care to name, is swamped in statistics. I’ve long held the view that football is theatre, art, cinematic, instantaneous and spontaneous, yet the advent of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) and especially the all encompassing nature of digits and statistics detract from the beautiful game. But the dreaded statistics are damning tonight: the Reds of Liverpool had 6 times as many shots on goal as the all whites of Real Madrid and over 4 times as many shots on target. The Reds had 3 times as many corners and are “ahead” (if there is such a thing) on ball possession, total passes and passing accuracy and for nearly an hour were in almost total control of tonight’s European Cup/Champions League final.
But Real Madrid scored the only goal (from only 4 total shots all night and 2 on target) and that one singular goal, on 59 minutes from Vinicius Junior, is the only statistic that matters.
Alas.
In a first half that took 10 minutes to warm up to the occasion, Liverpool completely dominated and to finish and dispense with any further dreaded statistics, had 8 shots on goal and 5 on target in an opening 45 minutes that saw Real Madrid with arguably only 1 shot on target in reply. It’s arguable as the “goal” Karim Benzema scored on the cusp of half-time, but which was flagged for offside and so disallowed, even though VAR should have overturned it and given a goal, even though it wasn’t by the letter of the law but was in the spirit of the game but was also disallowed instantly by the linesman (but still a goal!) but does this meddling with the game result in a shot on target? Who cares? Quite. But this one singular shot on the Liverpool goal and final use of statistics is damning further considering the final result, and a result that whilst not a repeat of the bitter 3–1 defeat in the final in Kiev 4 years ago, the manner was eerily similar. As soon as Los Blancos of Real Madrid got themselves in front on the most important statistic of all, the score line, they never looked like being pegged back and Liverpool tried, failed and indeed faded as the final shrill of the referee’s whistle loomed on a defeated horizon.
The Reds were magnificent in a first half controlled and dictated by Thiago Alcantara and he was truly at the heart of everything good and positive from Liverpool. The “spine” of the Reds team summed up their dominant first half display. Mo Salah, who would go on to trouble Real Madrid goalkeeper (and eventual “Man of the Match” recipient) Thibaut Courtois on 4 or 5 occasions, grew busily into the game, Thiago was imperiously spraying passes around in midfield and keeping the Reds moving forward whilst defensively, Ibrahima Konate (who won every battle with Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior all night long) was incredible ahead of goalkeeper Alisson Becker who barely had reason to dirty his goalkeeping gloves. Quixotically, it was Konate and Becker who would get into a terrible defensive muddle that would present Karim Benzema with the goal that wasn’t (but should have been) but aside from this error on the edge of half-time both superb all night. Tonight was Konate’s first ever defeat in a red shirt of Liverpool and although his frame may suggest he’s in his late 20’s or early 30’s, he’s a kid at just 23 years of age.
He was supreme tonight and did not deserve to be a loser in the city of his birth just over two decades ago.
With Thiago controlling the tempo and pattern of play the game came to life around the quarter of an hour mark and he was central for the first of many attacks that rained in on Thibaut Courtois in the Spanish Champions goal. He combined with Luis Diaz on 14 minutes before incessant Liverpool pressure saw a brilliant move involving their captain Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and eventual shooter Mo Salah, who forced the first of many saves from the goalkeeping custodian in the Real Madrid goal. The pressure was unrelenting as wave after wave of attacks from Liverpool forced Real Madrid to change tactics on 20 minutes and kick long goal kicks and long balls into the Liverpool half of the field if only to relieve the pressure. Seconds later it was all to no avail as the Reds passed their way through the Real Madrid rear guard again. This time it was a deft pass from Thiago that released Sadio Mane, and his shot was brilliantly fingertipped onto his post by goalkeeper Courtois and the score remained locked at 0–0.
The Reds had hit the frame of the Real Madrid goal and Thiago continued to mastermind a wonderful half of football akin to that inflicted upon Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final a few short weeks ago. The Reds star man tonight Ibrahima Konate marauded forward, beating challenges and keeping his cool to release Trent Alexander-Arnold. His cross was met by Mo Salah and whilst a tame header it was yet another effort on the target of the Real Madrid goal, but the players retreated at half-time 0–0.
The final 5 minutes or so of the first half was all Real Madrid and arguably so the majority of the 14 second half minutes that led to the game’s only goal. Where Thiago Alcantara ran the first half show, Luka Modric now did likewise for Real Madrid and with their first piece of real inventive football came their goal. Dani Carvajal played a sharp pass to Casemiro who in turn released Federico Valverde on the right wing. His cross shot rolled perfectly into the path of Vinicius Junior running in at the back post who simply couldn’t miss and he didn’t. With half an hour remaining Mo Salah alone had 3 chances to equalise and each time saw Thibaut Courtois deny him. Jordan Henderson presented Salah with a chance straight after the Real Madrid goal and 5 minutes later the Reds kept the ball alive in the penalty area after a corner. Substitute Diogo Jota headed across goal and Salah saw his near post shot kicked away by the Madrid goalkeeper before, with just 7 minutes remaining, Liverpool’s Egyptian King beat a covering defender only to see his fierce goal bound shot beaten away for another corner by Courtois yet again. The team dressed in all white ahead of their Belgian International goalkeeper rarely ventured forward after their goal and were happy to defend their precious 1–0 lead.
Which they duly did.
Alas.
There will be a fallout following this evening’s appalling treatment of some Liverpool fans and even some highly respected members of national and local Media as they too struggled to simply gain entrance to the stadium. I fear the fallout will be ugly and I fear it will be swept away in a flurry of fluffy UEFA press statements. All of this is for the future.
The other ugly truth from this evening is that whilst the Reds didn’t buckle when they went a goal behind they were eerily reminiscent of their tepid selves of 4 years ago when they again tasted defeat at this final stage, and against the same Los Blancos opposition.
But here’s the beautiful, if bitter sweet, truth:
Ibrahima Konate — Man mountain and future long term defensive partner of Virgil van Dijk.
Luis Diaz — It wasn’t the little Colombian magician’s night. But to have come from seemingly nowhere, a fresh signing, bag two winners medals and start a European Cup/Champions League final in the space of just 5 months is some going.
Good on yer kid.
This team, this developing team or should that be ever evolving team, bagged two trophies from a season in which they played every single possible fixture available to them at the start of the campaign. Sure there were dreams of a treble, a quadruple even, and particularly of bringing home “Old Big Ears” again. But it wasn’t to be. What was though were two domestic cup trophies and for whomever may scoff and scorn that a season of such overwhelming promise “only” resulted in two trophies, maybe they wish to take a peek in their own trophy cabinets now that the season is at an end?
They’ll find it emptier than the one at Anfield Road, Liverpool.
But more importantly (and easy to lose sight of on such a disappointing night) is the “PlayStation Football” this team plays, the spirit and attacking verve they approach every game with, the high defensive line that squeezes the zest and zeal out of nearly every opponent and the way Jurgen Klopp ensures his team condense the game into a small sided game and often only in the defensive half of their opposition. The press and counter press with its exciting and lightening quick transitions of play is a joy to behold at times and the Reds are arguably in the top 3 club football teams in the entire world. Until this evening I would have stated they were in a minority of 2 (with Manchester City) but Real Madrid are in that bracket now after their win this evening, and deservedly so.
Boy has that been a bind to write!
What hasn’t has been my pleasure to write on nearly every Liverpool game this season and something that has given me immense joy. As has watching Jurgen Klopp’s “mentality monsters” and their constant collective strive for PlayStation Football perfection.
I now have to find something useful to do with my life! Or, kill time until August for when the whole footballing carnival returns to town.
Thanks for the memories you Mighty Reds.
Thanks for reading. My archives are full to bursting with various articles on Liverpool FC and not just simply match reports such as these. Please do take a peek sometime or try the links below to the three most recently published articles:
UEFA Champions League Final Preview
Star Date: 28th May 2022. Venue: Stade de France, Parismedium.com
Don’t dream it’s over
It’s Manchester City’s title, but the Reds head to Paris for the biggest club football final in the world.medium.com
Southampton 1 Liverpool 2
Easy win on the south coast and the title dream is still alivemedium.com