UEFA Champions League final

2022 - 5 - 27

Post cover — Image courtesy of "UEFA.com"

Where the 2022 Champions League final was won and lost (UEFA.com)

UEFA.com's team reporters join the Real Madrid and Liverpool coaches and players in dissecting how things turned out at the Stade de France.

I don't think it was so bad [at the start of the match]. We didn't want them to play the ball forward so much, so we lowered the block a bit, and they didn't get a chance in behind. Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid goalkeeper: "The most important save was the Mané one, I think. Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach: "We've achieved something that nobody expected of us at the start of the season, and we've done that thanks to our quality, our commitment, our history: everything. Mané and Salah in particular will go to bed thinking what might have been, had it not been for the Real Madrid No1. His tireless running, drive and desire are what led to the decisive goal – yet he never shirked any of his defensive responsibilities and was probably the main reason that Andy Robertson made little impact. This was Liverpool's third final in five seasons, but ultimately Madrid had more composure at key moments in the game.

UEFA Champions League final 2022: Vinicius Jr. takes the glory as ... (Sporting News)

STADE DE FRANCE, SAINT DENIS — At the end of his pre-match press conference, Jurgen Klopp was asked about the decision to move this year's UEFA Champions ...

The investors took the money. The delayed opening ceremony, featuring singer Camila Cabello, a troop of brightly clad dancers and impressive pyrotechnics, was staged with the sort of efficiency and precision that those trapped outside would have loved to see deployed to their benefit. Journalists and witnesses confirmed many of those stuck in the logjam had been there for up to two hours. We play this final for all the people, but as well for the people of Ukraine." Reports of the problems began to filter through to those inside the ground. As it transpired, fans — plenty of them with tickets — were stuck in queues outside the Stade de France, forced into bottlenecks by police and security checkpoints where bags were being searched.

UEFA Blames Fans With Fake Tickets for UCL Final Fiasco in ... (Sports Illustrated)

A security issue at the gates of the Stade de France kept thousands of fans from entering Saturday's UEFA Champions League final.

Some of the affected spectators reportedly had tickets and had been attempting to enter the venue for over an hour. “In the lead-up to the game, the turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles. UEFA’s response is the second call for action following Saturday’s chaos.

Champions League final start delayed for security reasons ... (SuperSport)

The kick off of Saturday's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid was delayed for security reasons, a stadium announcer said on Saturday.

Another Real Madrid Star Sends UEFA Champions League Final ... (Soccer Laduma)

Another Real Madrid star has sent a warning to Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah over his revenge comments ahead of the UEFA Champions League final.

“Let’s hope it’s not an important burden for Salah to lose a second Champions League final against Real Madrid.” “It is true that when you lose a Champions League final you always want to have a second chance against that same team in order to beat them. Real full-back Dani Carvajal has warned the Egyptian about the burden of losing a second final to the Spanish giants.

How Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois earned UEFA Champions ... (Sporting News AU)

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois won the 2022 Champions League final Man of the Match award for his record-setting performance against Liverpool.

But after a season like this, they don't put you in the first 10? "There was a magazine in March that didn't put me in the best 10 goalkeepers. Salah's curling ball in was deflected by Jota, but Courtois again met the challenge. Sadio Mane hypnotically danced through the Madrid rearguard and hit a shot low and to the left, which seemed destined for the back of the net. "I'm not saying you have to put me as number one. The Belgium international got his evening off to a great start with a difficult reflex save in the 16th minute. "I'm not saying they have to put me as number one — really, I don't mind. The Belgian was brought in by Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2018, just after the Spanish giants had won the Champions League for a 13th time. Watch in the United States: While not all nine-save performances are equal, the stats show that Courtois undoubtedly had an outstanding night. That differential was bettered only by Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who conceded 18 goals from an xGOTC of 23.42. Watch in the United States: