Real Madrid Clinches 15th Champions League Title with Late Second-Half Goals

In a dramatic match at Wembley, Real Madrid secured their 15th Champions League title by defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-0, thanks to second-half goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior. Despite being outplayed for much of the game, Madrid's resilience paid off.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti had cautioned his players about the pressure of the final, and indeed, they seemed nervous initially. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, in his first Champions League appearance of the season following knee injuries, made crucial saves to keep Madrid in contention.

Dortmund missed several key chances, including Niclas Fullkrug hitting the post, which ultimately cost them dearly. The match faced an early interruption due to pitch invaders but resumed with Dortmund looking the stronger side, backed by former coach Jurgen Klopp.

Real Madrid has a strong record in European finals, not losing since 1983, but they appeared vulnerable at times. Dortmund's Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi both squandered opportunities, and despite their dominance, Dortmund couldn't capitalize.

Madrid started to show life after halftime, with Courtois making important saves and Real gradually gaining momentum. Carvajal eventually broke the deadlock with a header from a Toni Kroos corner, and Vinicius secured the victory with a late goal from a Jude Bellingham pass.

Dortmund had a potential goal disallowed for offside, leaving them to reflect on missed opportunities. The victory saw veterans Carvajal, Modric, Nacho, and the retiring Kroos celebrate a record-equalling sixth European Cup win, while Dortmund was left to ponder what might have been, reminiscent of their defeat to Bayern Munich at Wembley 11 years ago.