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          Real Madrid beat Liverpool, win 2021-22 Champions League: How the final played out

          • ESPN
          May 28, 2022, 09:57 PM

          Welcome to ESPN's LIVE coverage of the 2021-22 Champions League final! Premier League giants Liverpool take on LaLiga champions Real Madrid in a repeat of the 2018 final.

          This year went the same as 2018, as Real Madrid rode some luck -- and strong goalkeeping from Thibaut Courtois -- to beat Liverpool 1-0 in Paris and take home the prize. After a 40-minute kickoff delay due to delays getting fans into the stadium, the Spanish side walked away worthy winners. Just refresh the page to get the latest updates.

          - Marcotti: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid final will be box office
          - O'Hanlon: Can science explain Real Madrid's remarkable run? (E+)
          - Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
          - Don't have ESPN? Get instant access

          LIVE BLOG

          5:54 p.m. ET / 10:54 p.m. BST: What a night in Paris

          The Champions League final began late due to some shocking scenes outside the stadium, but it ended with Real Madrid walking away with their 14th European title, beating Liverpool 1-0 in Paris on Vinicius Junior's second-half goal.

          Our first reaction file from Paris is live, with Mark Ogden quick to put that final into context.

          Thank you so much for joining us. Check back later for more from Gab Marcotti, James Olley, Mark Ogden and Julien Laurens.

          5:50 p.m. ET / 10:50 p.m. BST: Congrats to Real Madrid!

          5:48 p.m. ET / 10:48 p.m. BST: Real Madrid were the team of destiny

          5:46 p.m. ET / 10:46 p.m. BST: A word on the winning manager

          Carlo Ancelotti extends his amazing success record in the European Cup into a fifth decade. Incredible considering he's only 62 years old.

          And it's even weirder considering he was Everton manager 12 months ago.

          5:43 p.m. ET / 10:43 p.m. BST: Heartbreak for Klopp

          Defeat for Liverpool means that Jurgen Klopp draws level with former Juventus boss Marcello Lippi as the two managers who have suffered the most defeats in Champions League finals (3), having fallen at the final hurdle with Borussia Dortmund in 2013 and Liverpool in 2018 and 2022.

          5:37 p.m. ET / 10:37 p.m. BST: A staggering accomplishment

          5:33 p.m. ET / 10:33 p.m. BST: FULL TIME! Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          It's all over in Paris. Real Madrid have won the Champions League again! They are champions of Europe for a record-extending 14th time as the final whistle sounds around the cavernous Stade de France.

          Liverpool gave it a valiant effort but in the end an inspired rearguard display from Los Blancos, coupled with Vinicius Junior's decisive goal, was enough to land the Spanish giants the victory.

          Throughout the tournament, Carlo Ancelotti's side made a habit of never knowing when they were beaten and that same grizzled hardiness held them in good stead all the way to the end of the road. The Reds wilted. The Whites refused to go under.

          5:29 p.m. ET / 10:29 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          Is this bad?

          Fede Valverde's lively evening comes to an end in the 86th minute as the tireless Real winger makes way for Eduardo Camavinga. Ancelotti then follows up by making another tactical switch mere minutes later as Dani Ceballos replaces veteran Luka Modric on the stroke of the 90th minute.

          With one hand on the trophy, Real are trying to see this out.

          5:26 p.m. ET / 10:26 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          Is this good?

          5:24 p.m. ET / 10:24 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          None shall pass! Courtois looks to be in utterly unbeatable form as the Real goalkeeper denies Salah once again. We've lost count of the amount of saves the Belgian has made, but it's safe to say he is currently the front-runner when it comes to the Man of the Match honours.

          5:22 p.m. ET / 10:22 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          Some fine approach play from Firmino presents Naby Keita with a golden chance to purloin a vital equaliser but the Liverpool man makes a dreadful hash of his shot.

          The midfielder attempted to drive a shot at goal with the outside of his foot but instead made contact with his instep, ballooning an embarrassing effort high and wide.

          5:18 p.m. ET / 10:18 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          Barely 10 minutes left in Paris! Can Liverpool level?

          Trent Alexander-Arnold drags a low shot wide of the mark and Jurgen Klopp has seen enough. Indeed, the German rolls the dice with a double substitution that sees Naby Keita replace Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino come on for Thiago.

          5:14 p.m. ET / 10:14 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          Another wild fact about tonight's only goal scorer...

          5:10 p.m. ET / 10:10 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          Aged 21 years and 320 days, Vinicius Junior is now the fifth-youngest goal scorer in UCL final history behind Marco Asensio (21 years and 133 days), Lars Ricken (20 years and 322 days), Carlos Alberto (19 years and 167 days) and Patrick Kluivert (18 years and 327 days).

          5:09 p.m. ET / 10:09 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          The first substitution of the night sees Diogo Jota come off the Liverpool bench to replace Luis Diaz on the left-hand side.

          5:06 p.m. ET / 10:06 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          Thibaut Courtois pulls off another decent save to thwart Mohamed Salah as Liverpool try to haul themselves back into the game. The Reds forward sent a curling shot toward the far post, but the tall Belgian was more than equal to it. The Real stopper has been a human wall for Real so far tonight.

          5:02 p.m. ET / 10:02 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          There's just under half an hour left in Paris and Liverpool need a goal.

          Vinicius has now scored 22 goals in all competitions this season after only managing six for Real last campaign. What a year the young forward is having!

          4:55 p.m. ET / 9:55 p.m. BST: REAL MADRID TAKE THE LEAD

          Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 1

          Real Madrid go roaring into the lead thanks to Vinicius Junior, who taps in Fede Valverde's low cross at the far post. The Brazilian winger was left in acres of space inside the box after pulling away from his marker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and the Stade de France erupts in a cacophony of noise.

          4:51 p.m. ET / 9:51 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

          The second half has kicked off in Paris and both teams have continued in much the same vein. Liverpool have sent a few hopeful crosses into the Real penalty area, but possession keeps getting turned over before anybody can make anything significant happen.

          4:44 p.m. ET / 9:44 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

          Liverpool registered 10 shots against Real Madrid in the first half. Only one side have ever attempted more shots in the first half of a Champions League final and that was Bayern Munich (16 shots) against Chelsea in 2012.

          For the record, Chelsea went on to win that game by holding on to down the Bavarians via a penalty shootout.

          4:42 p.m. ET / 9:42 p.m. BST: Second half begins!

          Real Madrid have rigged up a big screen at the Bernabeu in order to allow fans unable to make the trip to Paris to watch the final inside their stadium instead.

          The collective reaction to Benzema's disallowed goal just about sums up the confusion and controversy surrounding the decision.

          4:37 p.m. ET / 9:37 p.m. BST

          So just how was that goal disallowed? Leave it to Dale for the explanation/context.

          4:33 p.m. ET / 9:33 p.m. BST

          As for the half-time state of play, it's been an interesting one.

          4:27 p.m. ET / 9:27 p.m. BST: How is it Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0 at half-time??

          Well, we've made it through 45 minutes but not without a dramatic end to the first half.

          With just three minutes of the half remaining, Karim Benzema has the ball in the net for Real Madrid but the goal is chalked off after an offside is flagged in the buildup. Liverpool were extremely sloppy at the back and must feel like they've gotten away with one there.

          With Allison, Konate and Fabinho flailing, Liverpool looked to be in utter disarray as Benzema pounced but the Reds escape after a protracted VAR check ruled that the penultimate touch in the buildup was an inadvertent nudge off the knee of Fabinho. As the Brazilian didn't play the ball intentionally, Benzema was adjudged to be offside -- but only after several minutes of frustrating consultation between the officials.

          4:23 p.m. ET / 9:23 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

          With Liverpool fans perhaps getting a little carried away by Real's inability to lay a glove on them, let this serve as a timely reminder that Carlo Ancelotti's side failed to get going for 89 minutes against Manchester City in the semifinals only to somehow still win the game by a hefty margin.

          4:16 p.m. ET / 9:16 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

          Trent Alexander-Arnold fires a cross into the Real penalty box and Salah directs a header on goal only to see his effort fly straight into the midriff of Courtois once again.

          4:12 p.m. ET / 9:12 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

          The rhythm so far has been steady, not scintillating. Neither side has carved out much of a foothold, with plenty of milling and probing, but nothing else of note besides a brief peppering of attempts on Courtois' goal. At the other end, Real are still awaiting their first shot of goal with 30 minutes elapsed.

          4:07 p.m. ET / 9:07 p.m. BST: We weren't kidding about that Courtois save

          Mane really did look like he was going to score...

          4:04 p.m. ET / 9:04 p.m. BST: Issues continue outside

          4:01 p.m. ET / 9:01 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

          Sadio Mane strikes a fierce shot against the post after wriggling past two defenders and into the Real penalty area. Replays reveal that Courtois made yet another reflex save to deflect the effort onto the upright.

          3:58 p.m. ET / 8:58 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

          Mohamed Salah forces a scrambling save from Thibaut Courtois with the first shot of the final. The Real keeper then did well to gather a speculative Thiago effort as Liverpool kept the pressure on in the aftermath.

          3:55 p.m. ET / 8:55 p.m. BST: New video above

          ESPN's Mark Ogden reports on the chaos at the Champions League final outside the Stade de France as Liverpool fans were tear-gassed by police.

          3:52 p.m. ET / 8:52 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

          Karim Benzema is obviously in the mood, raising eyebrows with a slick little back-heeled flick pass but still we patiently await the first effort on goal from either side as we creep past the 10-minute mark.

          3:45 p.m. ET / 8:45 p.m. BST: Liverpool 0, Real Madrid 0

          Fairly tentative stuff from both teams in the opening five minutes as the finalists scope each other out. Liverpool are pressing aggressively out of possession, but Real look more than capable of playing their way out of trouble so far.

          3:40 p.m. ET / 8:40 p.m. BST:

          ESPN spoke to fans outside the stadium after the scheduled kickoff time and some showed match tickets for the game which should have secured their entry. A young female supporter, with tears in her eyes, complained of being sprayed with pepper gas by riot police and ESPN witnessed and filmed a subsequent incident of fans being sprayed. While they queued outside, the Liverpool supporters were calm and well-behaved as they waited to be allowed into the stadium. -- Mark Ogden

          3:38 p.m. ET / 8:38 p.m. BST: WE ARE UNDERWAY!

          The 2021-22 Champions League final has kicked off! Nearly 40 minutes later than scheduled, but things are finally underway at the Stade de France and it begins with Liverpool in red winning the toss and kicking off against Real Madrid in all-white.

          3:37 p.m. ET / 8:37 p.m. BST:

          The two teams have finally emerged from the dressing rooms and lined up for the pregame formalities but unsurprisingly a chorus of boos greet the playing of the UEFA Champions League anthem.

          3:36 p.m. ET / 8:36 p.m. BST: A little more reporting on the issues outside

          James Olley was also checking out the situation with fans being unable to get in.

          Talking to Liverpool fans outside the ground, they spoke of supporters being teargassed or pepper-sprayed and French locals spread among them trying to get in without tickets and rattling fences. A cameraman filming outside the stadium suggests two of the turnstiles in the Liverpool end were closed around 45 minutes ago because of fears people were forcing entry without tickets. UEFA's stadium announcement that the kickoff delay was "due to the late arrival of fans" has only angered those outside even more. -- James Olley

          3:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. BST: The game will kick off at 3:36 p.m. ET / 8:36 p.m. BST, per UEFA.

          At least tennis champion Rafael Nadal has made it to his seat in time for kickoff.

          3:26 p.m. ET / 8:26 p.m. BST: The scene outside the Parc des Princes

          ESPN's Mark Ogden was outside and saw fans being sprayed with tear gas or pepper spray by the gates.

          3:21 p.m. ET / 8:21 p.m. BST: UEFA's reasons for the delay

          3:09 p.m. ET / 8:09 p.m. BST: KICKOFF DELAYED ANOTHER 15 MINUTES

          UEFA has pushed the start time back to 3:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. BST) in order to make sure fans are in the stadium safely.

          Our story on the delays is HERE.

          The delays mean that both teams are back out to warm up again/stay warmed up.

          3:05 p.m. ET / 8:05 p.m. BST

          A reminder of your starting lineups!

          LIVERPOOL: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz.

          REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius.

          After all, we're expecting a game in roughly 10 minutes...

          2:59 p.m. ET / 7:59 p.m. BST

          Chaotic scenes outside the ground as UEFA cite "late arrival of fans" as the reason for kickoff being delayed. Those hundreds of supporters who have been waiting idly outside for the last few hours unable to enter through the crowded turnstiles would probably beg to differ.

          2:50 p.m ET / 7:50 p.m BST: KICKOFF DELAYED BY 15 MINUTES

          Breaking news from Paris...

          The delay is due to issues with Liverpool fans safely getting into the stadium after some bottlenecks and congestion heading towards the gates.

          2:44 p.m. ET / 7:44 p.m. BST: Real Madrid's veteran left-back Marcelo's stock has dipped of late, but there's no arguing with the legacy he could extend his record as the most-decorated player in the club's history with a fifth Champions League winners' medal tonight.

          - Lowe: Marcelo's Madrid career may be over, but he'll leave a legend

          2:39 p.m. ET / 7:39 p.m. BST: Late lineup drama for Liverpool around Thiago

          However, sources say Thiago is still in the starting lineup despite the intense on-pitch deliberations during warm-ups!

          2:39 p.m. ET / 7:39 p.m. BST: Route to the final

          After both finishing top of their group, Liverpool (who won all six of their Group A games) and Real Madrid have had to see off some heavy hitters on the way to the final. Jurgen Klopp's side dispatched Inter Milan, Benfica and Villarreal in the knockout rounds while Carlo Ancelotti led his team past Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City in a series of comeback wins.

          Real are W10 L1 D1 in the competition this season, with their one defeat coming in their shock 2-1 home loss to Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol. Liverpool, meanwhile, are yet to be beaten with a record of W8 L0 D4. The Spanish side have scored 30 goals and conceded just 13 goals in 12 games thus far, while the English side have scored 28 and allowed 14. Both have kept four clean sheets.

          - O'Hanlon: Can science explain Real Madrid's magical run?

          2:34 p.m. ET / 7:34 p.m. BST: The head coaches

          Having already become the first manager in history to win the title in all of Europe's big five leagues this season, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is finishing off his stellar campaign by leading a team into the Champions League final for the fifth time in his career, another record.

          Jurgen Klopp is doing so for a fourth time, which puts him joint-second with a whole host of luminaries including Sir Alex Ferguson, Marcelo Lippi and Miguel Munoz, Real Madrid's great coach of the 1940s and '50s.

          Ancelotti could become the first coach to win four European Cups, having already won twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, and Real in 2014.

          By that same token, a loss for Klopp would mean the German would draw level with former Juventus boss Lippi as the manager who have suffered the most defeats in Champions League finals with three (after losing the Bayern Munich with Borussia Dortmund in 2013 and against Madrid for Liverpool in 2018).

          - Ogden: Ancelotti, the players' coach, on brink of UCL history

          2:29 p.m. ET / 7:29 p.m. BST: Karim Benzema has goal record in his sights

          Los Blancos boast the competition's top goal scorer this season, with Karim Benzema scoring 15 goals in just 11 games en route to the final in Paris.

          Benzema has also scored a career-high 44 goals in 45 games for Real in all competitions this season, with Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich (50 goals) the only player in all of Europe's top five leagues to have registered more in 2021-22. Two more goals in the final would see the Frenchman equal the all-time record for goals scored in a single Champions League season, which is currently held by former Real teammate Cristiano Ronaldo (17 goals in 2013-14).

          Benzema has 10 goals in his last five Champions League games which is a record for a five-game span in the knockout stages of the competition that he also shares with Ronaldo (10 goals in five games in 2017).

          Only three players have ever scored a hat trick of more in a European Cup final -- Alfredo Di Stefano (in the 1960 final) and Ferenc Puskas (1960, 1962) of Real Madrid, and Pierino Prati of Milan (1969). However, Benzema scored hat tricks in back-to-back Champions League games against PSG and Chelsea en route to this season's final, so don't bet against him joining that exclusive club.

          Liverpool's top scorer in Europe is Mohamed Salah (eight goals) meaning that the Egypt forward would have to embark on an unprecedented spree in the final to overtake Benzema in the race for the Golden Boot.

          2:22 p.m. ET / 7:22 p.m. BST: Liverpool end still filling

          Continued congestion issues at the Stade de France...

          2:16 p.m. ET / 7:16 p.m. BST

          Special congratulations are in order for Jordan Henderson who is captaining Liverpool in a third Champions League final and therefore joins some incredibly illustrious company in doing so.

          The midfielder has worn the armband in as many European Cup/UCL finals as Milan legend Paolo Maldini and Real Madrid icon Paco Gento and is only one game behind the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Franco Baresi.

          2:11 p.m. ET / 7:11 p.m. BST: Fans struggling to get in?

          James Olley is in position but noting the build-up of fans trying to get into the stadium...

          There are other reports of confusion over entry that is causing some stress outside the Stade de France.

          2:07 p.m. ET / 7:07 p.m. BST: England vs. Spain

          The 2022 final will be contested by teams who represent the two most successful nations in European Cup history, with England and Spain producing a total of 32 winners between them (18 from Spain and 14 from England).

          However, the 1981 final when Liverpool pipped Real is the only time in history that an English side has beaten a Spanish side in the final. All four subsequent occasions (Barcelona vs. Arsenal in 2006, Barcelona vs. Manchester United in 2009, Barcelona vs. Manchester United in 2011 and Real Madrid vs. Liverpool in 2018) have resulted in the Spanish side taking the glory.

          As such, Liverpool are bidding to become the first English side in 41 years -- since Liverpool in 1981 -- to successfully beat a team from Spain to lift the European Cup.

          1:55 p.m ET / 6:55 p.m. BST: Liverpool team news is IN

          Big news in the Liverpool team -- Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho both start, despite being injury doubts ahead of the game. And in defence, Ibrahima Konate is chosen ahead of Joel Matip alongside Virgil van Dijk. Thiago had been the biggest doubt, having limped out of the win against Wolves six days ago with a tweaked hamstring. The Spain midfielder trained on Friday, but the big question mark will be about how long he can last against Real. -- Mark Ogden

          That team in full...

          1:49 p.m. ET / 6:49 p.m. BST: Have you seen the traffic in Paris?

          Liverpool's team bus has had a struggle to get through the traffic to make it to the Stade de France. Jurgen Klopp and his players are only just arriving now, having been temporarily stuck in traffic on the motorway close to the stadium. So while Real's players are now beginning to stroll onto the pitch to get an early feel for their surroundings, Liverpool's team are still waiting to get off the bus. -- Mark Ogden

          1:45 p.m. ET / 6:45 p.m. BST: Head-to-head record in knockout matches

          Starting with the 1981 final, Liverpool beat Real in all three of their first meetings in the knockout phases of the European Cup/Champions League and all without conceding a single goal.

          • 1981 final: Liverpool 1-0

          • 2009 round of 16, first leg: Liverpool 1-0

          • 2009 round of 16, second leg: Liverpool 4-0

          Since then, Real have gone unbeaten (W2 L0 D1) in the three most recent knockout meetings between the pair, including the 2018 final.

          • 2018 final: Real Madrid 3-1

          • 2021 quarterfinal, first leg: Real Madrid 3-1

          • 2021 quarterfinal, second leg: 0-0

          1:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m BST: Real Madrid announce their team early

          Is it mind games or is it genius? At roughly 1 p.m. ET, two hours before kickoff, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti had his team-sheet printed. No going back now, sir...

          Real Madrid have gone early with their team by announcing their starting XI a full hour before it has to be submitted to UEFA. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has selected Fede Valverde ahead of Rodrygo in his front three. Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos start in midfield as expected -- six years after starting in the 2016 Final against Atletico Madrid in Milan. -- Mark Ogden

          And here's the full team sheet...

          1:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. BST: The first "three-peat" final

          Liverpool and Real Madrid are no strangers when it comes to the Champions League, having met in the final twice before, first in 1981 and then again in 2018. The Reds took first blood in '81 with a narrow 1-0 win in Paris, while Real wrought their vengeance almost four decades later by winning 3-1 in Kiev. As such, the 2022 final represents the very first "three-peat" meeting (i.e three finals between the same two sides) since the European Cup was inaugurated in the 1955-56.

          Speaking of the magic number, Jurgen Klopp's hopefuls are also seeking to become the first English club to win a "cup treble" by adding the Champions League to the League Cup and FA Cup they have already won this season. No other English side have ever reached the final of all three competitions in the same campaign.

          Overall, the 2022 final is only the ninth encounter between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Europe's elite tournament and the Spaniards have a slight edge when it comes to their previous encounters (W4, L3, D1), scoring 10 goals in that time compared to the Red's total of eight.

          Furthermore, Liverpool have not beaten Real in the Champions League since 2008-09 when they thrashed them 5-0 on aggregate in the round of 16. A single goal from Yossi Benayoun was enough to secure a 1-0 win at the Bernabeu in the first leg before Rafa Benitez's side stormed to a 4-0 victory at Anfield in the return leg. The Reds then exited the tournament in the next round after losing 7-5 on aggregate to Premier League rivals Chelsea.

          - Liverpool and Real Madrid's UCL final wins -- ranked!

          1:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. BST: Who will win?

          The 125th and last Champions League game of the season takes place in Paris tonight with a final between two of the most-decorated clubs in the history of the competition -- Liverpool and Real Madrid.

          Liverpool have become the first English club to reach 10 European Cup finals and do so chasing their seventh title. If successful, they would move joint-second on the all-time list, level with AC Milan.

          However, they find themselves up against the undisputed kings of the continent in Real, who have appeared in more finals (17) and lifted the trophy aloft (13) than any other team. Another win for the Spanish giants tonight would see them claim the cup for a fifth time in nine years.

          But who do you think will win? Vote in our poll.