Gareth Bale sees ‘dream come true’ as Loris Karius nightmare breaks Liverpool hearts and gifts Real Madrid the Champions League
Welshman scores wonder strike in 3-1 win but both he and Cristiano Ronaldo hint that they may leave Zinedine Zidane’s side
Bale’s jaw-dropping overhead kick in the 64th minute put Real 2-1 up moments after his introduction, following a dramatic start to the second half in which Karim Benzema gave Real the lead as a result of a Loris Karius howler.
Sadio Mane had briefly restored parity, but Bale put Real in front again and then sealed the triumph late on with a long-range strike that the unfortunate Karius could only punch into the net.
Jurgen Klopp’s and Liverpool’s own evening was marred by the loss of a distraught Mohamed Salah to injury in the first half, the Egyptian coming off half an hour in having damaged his shoulder.
This was not to be Salah’s night, with Real allowing Zinedine Zidane to become the first coach ever to win the Champions League three years in a row.
“With a team like this we can go far, but to win three of them, it’s something crazy,” Zidane said.
Madrid are the first team to achieve that feat since Bayern Munich in 1976. This is their fourth title in five years, and their 13th overall.