It took a while on Saturday evening before the ball actually started rolling in Paris. The kick-off of the match was postponed by 36 minutes, because it was one big chaos in and around the stadium in the run-up to the game. Tickets without tickets climbed over and through the fences into the Stade de France, while many ticketed Liverpool fans had to wait hours outside the stadium. Police in Paris had to use tear gas and pepper spray to stifle riots.
Courtois can’t be beat
36 minutes later than scheduled, the Champions League final of the 2021/2022 season finally started and it was Liverpool that pushed for the opening stage. Mo Salah saw a bet from close range by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who then also stood by with a bang from Thiago Alcantara. Five minutes later, the Real Madrid Belgian goalie was once again in the way when he tapped a Sadio Mane shot against the post with his fingertips and saw the ball bounce back into the field behind him.
Thibaut Courtois taps a shot from the invisible Sadio Mané against the post, after which the ball jumps back into the field.
REUTERS
Real did not come in the opening phase and Courtois also had to act on a header from Salah. There were already more than 35 minutes on the clock when the Spanish formation only threatened Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker for the first time. Vinicius Junior broke free in the English penalty area, but saw the danger neutralized by an extreme effort by Jordan Henderson. In the last minute of regular time, Real seemed to take the lead against all odds, but Karim Benzema’s goal was disallowed.
Offside
The French striker took a long pass from David Alaba and seemed to lose his chance just in front of goalkeeper Becker, but the ball landed at his feet again through the mess. Benzema hit the mark with his left leg, but the assistant referee flagged the goal immediately. The video referee looked at both moments (both the possible offside situation after Alaba’s pass and before the goal) for at least two minutes, and finally judged that Benzema had been offside.
Karim Benzema scores on the stroke of half-time, but sees his goal disallowed for offside.
AFP
In the second half too, the first danger was again from Liverpool, but Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold saw their shots cracked in the Madrid penalty area. And after less than an hour of play, Vinicius Junior opened the game. On the brink of offside, he extended a failed shot by Federico Valverde at the far post behind Becker into the English goal. A fine personal success for the young attacker, who has become increasingly important for Real Madrid this season.
Virgil van Dijk rules in the air against Luka Modric (10) and Federico Valverde.
AFP
Of course Salah also wanted to make his mark, after he had to leave the field so quickly in the final of 2018 between the two clubs. The Egyptian found Courtois in his way with a well-placed shot and moments later he also lacked some space at the far post to tap in the 1-1.
Everything out of the closet
With Diogo Jota, Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino, Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp tried everything to make it 1-1, but Courtois kept the game of his life. The Belgian drove Salah to despair by diving out of a certain-seeming goal from the Egyptian six minutes before the end. On the other side, Casemiro had a huge chance at 2-0, but the defensive midfielder was so shocked by the freedom he was given that he played the ball the wrong way.
It did not harm Real, as it held up in the final phase where Liverpool insisted. And so Van Dijk again had to recognize his superior in Real Madrid on the highest European club stage.