Real Madrid 3 Liverpool 1: Gareth Bale overhead kick stuns the Reds - video
It’s a nightmare Champions League final for Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius after two bad mistakes
Real Madrid 3 Liverpool 1
Gareth Bale came off the bench and scored twice as holders Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in the Champions League final in Kiev.
Welsh wonder Bale scored an outrageous overhead kick within two minutes of coming on and later netted Real’s third. Bale’s goal was so good many pundits and fans believe it’s a better strike than Cristiano Ronaldo’s against Juventus earlier this season.
It was a great night for Bale and coach Zinedine Zidane as Real secured their third Champions League title in succession and 13th in total. But the match will equally be remembered for two bad mistakes by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius and an early injury to Mohamed Salah.
Reds stopper Karius gifted Karim Benzema the opener in the 50th minute when the Real striker stuck out a leg after Karius had rolled out the ball.
Sadio Mane equalised within four minutes for Jurgen Klopp’s side but once Bale came onto the pitch he made an immediate impact. After the overhead kick, Bale’s second goal, a long-range strike, was fumbled into the net by Karius to make it 3-1 to Real.
After the match Bale told BT Sport: “Obviously I was very disappointed not to start the game, I felt I deserved it but the manager makes the decisions. The best I have been doing is to come on and make an impact, I certainly did.
“It has to be the best goal in a Champions League final, there is no bigger stage. I am just happy to get the win. It is a team game but when you are a substitute, it is a game of more than 11 players. I made an impact.
“We know what we have achieved and how good we have been. The league was disappointing but we won the Champions League. It turns out to be a great season.
“We let everyone else speak. We know how hungry we are in the changing room, how prepared and motivated we are.”