#Match Report: Bale's double hands Real Madrid third straight Champions League title

Summary

Gareth Bale scored one of European football’s great goals to help Real Madrid overcome Liverpool and win their third successive Champions League title as goalkeeper Loris Karius suffered a personal nightmare. Bale made his mark on another Champions League final with a magnificent overhead kick to put Real 2-1 up after 64 minutes. Liverpool had already suffered the devastating blow of losing top scorer Mohamed Salah midway through the first half – with a shoulder injury sustained in a challenge with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos – when calamity struck for Karius.

Six minutes after half-time, the German inexplicably threw the ball against Karim Benzema, who was not even challenging with urgency, and watched in horror as the ball rolled behind him into the net. Liverpool recovered from the shock to equalise through Sadio Mane before Bale stepped off the bench to score his wonder goal. There was to be no comeback from Liverpool this time and Karius’s misery was complete when he fumbled Bale’s hopeful 30-yard shot behind him to seal Real’s win. It sealed Real’s record 13th win in this competition, and their fourth in five seasons to give coach Zinedine Zidane this third triumph in three years.

Highlights

Moments

23′ Attempt saved. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.24′ Sergio Ramos’s foul on Mo Salah.51′ Goal! Real Madrid 1, Liverpool 0. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.55′ Goal! Real Madrid 1, Liverpool 1. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dejan Lovren following a corner.60′ Attempt missed. Isco (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Nacho with a cross.64′ Goal! Real Madrid 2, Liverpool 1. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Marcelo with a cross.82′ Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Gareth Bale.83′ Goal! Real Madrid 3, Liverpool 1. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Marcelo.