Fantasy of what intervention Courtois drew. One of countless on Saturday night in Paris.
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After all, he reached the right fingertips of his right hand on Mané’s blow, so the ball resonated against the bar of his goal. Salah chased after him, but the Belgian goalkeeper tamed the ball.
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Definitely an evening intervention.
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And extremely important for the fate and development of the final.
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“I was literally impressed by Courtois’ actions, most of all,” breathed Christian Karembeu, who won the Real Champions League with Real in 1998.
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9 – Thibaut Courtois recorded nine saves against Liverpool tonight, the highest tally for a goalkeeper in a #UCLfinal since this data is available (2003-04), surpassing Alisson in 2019 and Edwin van der Sar in 2011 (both 8). Saviour.#LIVRMA pic.twitter.com/Psp2CRONwv
– OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) May 28, 2022
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Courtois had already managed to try Salah and Fabinho, but in the 21st minute it was a key intervention.
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“It was his big night. I think he was the best Real player this season, “said Chris Sutton, a former Chelsea and Celtic striker.
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Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois held his team several times in the opening of the Champions League final.Photo: Gonzalo Fuentes, Reuters
“Mane has been the biggest problem for Real. The defenders obviously didn’t know whether to defend him narrowly or not, “Alan Shearer added to the BBC.
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“As soon as Liverpool wins the ball, the opponent’s players seem to be petrified from the pace and speed of the Reds ‘attackers,” Sutton commented on the first half, which took place during the Reds’ complete domination.
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The white ballet was invisible.
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He just defended himself for 43 minutes. Routinely, albeit very passively, so Courtois was in action five times in 38 minutes. So many bullets were aimed at him.
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Disappointed real sniper Karim Benzema.Photo: Lee Smith, Reuters
However, two minutes before the break, he hit Benzema. Until then non-existent, as did his team, but at an incriminating moment proving what format it is and that for the White Ballet it means the same as Courtois.
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He scored Arnold, took advantage of Konatý’s clash with Alisson and scored. However, after two minutes of examining the whole situation, VAR learned from the judge that he was offside.
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“Typical Real. He’ll offer you a chance, and if you don’t use them, he’ll punish you with his offensive skills, “the top scorer in Premier League Shearer wondered if the goal should have paid off.
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Dani Carvajal celebrates Real’s goal in the Champions League final.Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach, Reuters
After an hour of play, the goal of Vinícius jr. Valverde fired, but his shot center flew to a young Brazilian comet lurking at the rear pole. And Vinicius hit himself in the open gate
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“He just did what good strikers do,” Sutton said appreciatively after Vinicius Jr. took Real into the lead with the 22nd goal of the season.
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In fact, the first shot aimed at the poles of Liverpool.
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A shock to the Reds, for which Salah could wake them up after only five minutes. But the phantom of Courtois should not have that against him. And neither Alexander-Arnold nor Jota, or Salah, should have him against him, because they all had more than a chance.
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Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kisses the cup for the Champions League winner.Photo: Gonzalo Fuentes, Reuters
“Real must thank Courtois for winning the Champions League again,” succinctly Alan Shearer summed up Liverpool’s futile efforts to at least equalize and force an overtime.
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Nothing helped the deployment of four attackers, Real guarded the win and triumphed for the fourteenth time in the Champios League.
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“Real was a mental monster this season in the Champions League,” Chris Sutton summed up the campaign of Ancelotti’s charges, who also taught Liverpool in the finals after Chelsea and Manchester City.
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| Champions League final in Paris: |
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| FC Liverpool – Real Madrid 0:1 (0:0) |
| Goal: 59. Vinícius Júnior. Judges: Turpin – Danos, Gringore – Brisard (video, all Fr.). ZK: Fabinho (Liverpool). Attendance: 75,000 (sold out). |
| Liverpool: Alisson – Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson – Henderson (77. Keita), Fabinho, Thiago (77. Firmino) – Salah, Mané, Díaz (65. Jota). Coach: Klopp. |
| Real: Courtois – Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy – Modrič (90. Ceballos), Casemiro, Kroos – Valverde (85. Camavinga), Benzema, Vinícius Júnior (90. + 3 Rodrygo). Coach: Ancelotti. |
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