Real Madrid beat Liverpool and touch Amancio's heaven
The hero of the Sixth European Cup was Amancio. The Galician scored the 1-1 in that final in Heysel (Brussels) against Partizan where Real Madrid lifted a new title in 1966.
Fifty-seven years have passed since that achievement and Real Madrid continue their love affair with the European competition, which, however, they deny their presence because they want to make it bigger. Eight more titles have been added to the Bernabéu's trophy cabinet and 20 Champions League titles in total were on offer at Anfield on the night when the Spanish club bid farewell to its honorary president.
Liverpool were on a par with the European giants. Sir Kenny Dalglish, legend of the English club, laid a wreath in front of the fans who came to the theatre of dreams.
The English dream lasted 14 minutes. That's how long it took them to overwhelm Real Madrid and score two goals through Darwin Núñez and Mo Salah. The left flank was a sieve because of Vinicius and Alaba's desire to attack, which cleared the way for the opposition.
Ancelotti said after the game that the key was not to lose his composure after the second goal. It was a time to lose your nerves because Courtois' mistake in a poor control that gifted the goal to Salah, could have sunk White's morale.
But then Real Madrid woke up. The team that beat PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City. The one that beat Liverpool in the final in Paris. The world champions. The team that overcame the physical decline that the World Cup has brought to all the players.
Modric was 10 years younger. He put pressure on Liverpool's ball in their own area. The memory of Raúl chasing opponents appeared in the memory of the madridistas who were desperately looking for an umbrella in the face of what was coming their way.
In the 20th minute Vinicius made it 2-1 and in the 27th minute Alaba was injured. Two moments that changed the game. The team hooked up, Nacho blocked the left flank highway and left Salah stranded on the hard shoulder.
Alisson has never been the best goalkeeper Liverpool could have had. Even Adrian could do better. The Brazilian failed to learn from Courtois' mistake a few minutes earlier and gifted Vinicius the second goal just before half-time. He smashed the ball past the Brazilian, who was no longer even looking at the play.
Anfield fell silent. Real Madrid had set the clock back to zero and their players were unable to keep up with the pace of the European champions.
In the second half the recital continued. Benzema offered those minutes of quality that his body forces him to and scored two more goals. The Frenchman is the rudder of the team and Ancelotti recognised this after the match.
The impetus of the Whites made it 2-3 from a set-piece. Modric put a tense ball from the by-line to the head of Militao. The red defence was a spectator of luxury for the white board.
Ceballos, Asensio and Kroos came on in the final minutes to give rest and recognition to Rodrygo, Benzema and Modric. Anfield applauded the white players and sportingly accepted another defeat and the end of their time in this Champions League.
There will be the return leg. Three weeks later. In between, a derby and a Clasico that Madrid fans will be a little lazy to see in the face of the European delights that are yet to come.
