Real Madrid prevailed on penalties as they got the better of Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final for the second time in three seasons.
Madrid got the better of Atletico in Lisbon two years ago – the first European Cup final between clubs from the same city – and repeated the trick at San Siro.
That gives them their 11th European title, four ahead of AC Milan, with Barcelona, Bayern München and Liverpool all on five triumphs.
Atletico, however, have now lost three European Cup finals, behind only Juventus (six), Bayern and Benfica (both five) and level with Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a quiet match by his high standards, scored the decisive spot kick after Juanfran had hit the base of the post with the eighth attempt of the shoot-out. Substitute Yannick Carrasco’s 79th-minute equaliser cancelled out a first-half strike by Sergio Ramos, whose own – last-gasp – leveller against the Rojiblancos had forced extra time in Lisbon two years ago.
The contest was at odds with Diego Simeone’s prediction that “the game will be very tense” as both sides went at it before fatigue took its toll, Casemiro forcing a fine reaction save out of Jan Oblak after getting on the end of Gareth Bale’s inswinging free-kick from the right.
On the quarter-hour mark it was a Toni Kroos set piece from the opposite flank that proved Atletico’s undoing. Bale, having lost his marker, flicked it on and Ramos manoeuvred around Stefan Savić to prod the ball under Oblak.
Atletico’s purposeful start to the second period bore fruit when Pepe fouled Fernando Torres in the area. Opting for power rather than placement, Antoine Griezmann blasted his penalty against the crossbar.
Madrid might have doubled their lead inside the last 20 minutes through Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale, whose shot was blocked in front of goal by Savić. Moments later, Juanfran exchanged passes with Gabi and crossed for half-time substitute Carrasco to turn in his first UEFA Champions League goal of the campaign.
There was no winner at the end of 120 minutes so the game went to penalties.
In the shootout, Lucas Vazquez, Marcelo and Gareth Bale scored for Real, with Griezmann, Gabi and Saul Niguez replying to make it 3-3.
After Ramos stepped up to make it 4-3, Juanfran hit the post, leaving Ronaldo with the chance to win the cup.
The competition’s all-time leading scorer kept his composure to win it – his third individual Champions League triumph following on his from his successes with Manchester United in 2008 and Real in 2014.
