Liverpool have won the Champions League after Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi ensured a 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
Thousands descended on Madrid for a legacy-defining encounter at the end of a scarcely-believable continental campaign, with both sides narrowly making it through the group stage and then completing jaw-dropping semi-final wins.
And Liverpool would emerge victorious as Salah struck from the penalty spot inside two minutes before super-sub Origi confirmed the Reds’ sixth European crown in the closing stages.
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Jordan Henderson lifts the Champions League trophy
On a tense night of few chances, Tottenham were left stunned when referee Damir Skomina awarded Liverpool a penalty barely 20 seconds into the showdown in Madrid.
Moussa Sissoko was adjudged to have handled inside the box after the ball struck his outstretched arm from point-blank range.
And Salah banished his painful memories from last year’s final in Kiev by slamming the ball past Hugo Lloris.
Spurs recovered from the early shock and grew into the tie, especially in the second-half, but they failed to truly test Alisson.
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Salah’s early penalty put Liverpool ahead in the all-English showpiece
And just after one semi-final hero spurned a glorious chance to equalise, another put the game to bed.
Lucas Moura fluffed his lines when the ball fell to him six yards out, before Origi fired a superb left-footed effort past the helpless Lloris.
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Origi found the bottom corner with a brilliant strike
The triumph in Madrid caps off a remarkable season for Liverpool, which threatened to end without silverware after they were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City.
Instead, 14 years on from that memorable night in Istanbul, they have their first major trophy for seven years.
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Tottenham failed to create enough chances
It will be particularly special for Jurgen Klopp, who had lost the final twice previously, as he delivers his first piece of silverware for Liverpool.
Tottenham, reaching the final for the first time, ultimately failed to shine on the biggest night in their history – and Mauricio Pochettino’s long search for a major honour continues.
The surprise start seemed to elevate the tension inside the ground, leading to a mistake-ridden opening period devoid of much quality.
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Klopp finally delivers for Liverpool
Wayward efforts by Sissoko and Christian Eriksen were the best Spurs could muster as they failed to get the best out of star turn Kane, who had just 11 touches in the first half.
Pochettino’s men were unable to create clear-cut chances during the moments they were on top, but Liverpool were also struggling and only really threatened from distance.
Trent Alexander-Arnold fizzed an effort just wide and towards the end of the first half fellow full-back Andy Robertson saw a thumping effort tipped over by Lloris.
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Virgil van Dijk was outstanding for Liverpool once again
The second half got under way with a little more intensity but precious little extra class early on.
Origi and Moura came on as the managers turned to the heroes of their respective semi-final triumphs, but it was another substitute who went close to scoring in the 69th minute.
Mane ghosted through and Salah laid off for James Milner, whose low shot was just wide of the post. Toby Alderweireld’s last-gasp tackle prevented Mane getting away a close-range effort soon after as play became stretched.
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Henderson broke down in tears after the final whistle
Dele Alli’s audacious chipped effort brought groans from the Spurs faithful, who were being frustrated by a Liverpool defence led by man-of-the-match Virgil van Dijk.
Alli headed over when Spurs did find a gap, while Alisson denied Son Heung-min and then Moura.
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Spurs could not muster a goal on their first Champions League final appearance
An Eriksen free-kick drew another decent stop from the Brazilian, but with three minutes remaining Liverpool doubled their lead and wrapped up the victory.
Semi-final hero Origi found space in the box and struck a well-placed shot beyond the reach of Lloris and into the bottom corner.
Manager reaction
Jurgen Klopp: “I’m so happy for the boys, I’m so happy for all these people – our fans. I’m so happy for my family, they suffer every year when we go to a final on the last game of the season and we lose it.
“So they deserve it more than anybody. They are so supportive like they [the fans] are. Did you ever see a team like this?
“Fighting with absolutely no fuel in the tank anymore, both teams obviously, Tottenham came up and changed offensively.
“And then you have a goalkeeper who is making difficult things look easy. It’s unbelievable, what a night!
“The night will be much better now. We have to do a few interviews, then show the cup off to the people, but it is maybe the best night of my life.”
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Jurgen Klopp is thrown in the air by his Liverpool players as they celebrate their Champions League triumph
Mauricio Pochettino: “We are so disappointed. We are so proud. Our players and our fans gave everything in the final game of the season.
“Overall I thought we dominated the game and created some chances, but we didn’t score.
“It was so painful but at the same time we need to be calm in the way that we analyse things. We did so well this season.
“I want to congratulate Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp and their players. They made a fantastic season.
“We need to be clever now and after a very painful game like this it’s about being building for the next period of your life.”
MATCH STATS AND FACTS
- Liverpool have won their sixth European Cup – that is twice as many as any other English team have ever won (Manchester United next on three wins).
- Klopp is the fourth Liverpool manager to win the European Cup, after Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Rafael Benitez.
- Klopp is the fifth German manager to win the European Cup, after Dettmar Cramer, Jupp Heynckes, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Udo Latte.
- Pochettino has lost both of his major finals as Tottenham manager, also losing the League Cup final against Chelsea in 2015.
- Liverpool (35.4%) are the first side to win the Champions League final despite having less possession than the opposition since Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich in 2010.
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