As the time passes, the details of this match will definitely fade. Real Madrid will not remember how exactly it went from being great to being a legend. The specifics will begin to matter less and less as the time goes by. What will really matter is that Real Madrid has accomplished what only the special few have managed to do – to win the Champions League three years in a row.
A Short Memory
How it all went down will eventually become secondary. The narrative that Real Madrid will tell to itself and to the world will inevitably change. The collective memory of its players and fans will pick only the parts worth remembering and forget those that do not fit their idealistic image.
The second goal of three total, the impressive overhead blast of Gareth Bale, will be the first one to be mentioned whenever the conversation about this match is started. It is an immortal kind of goal. On the other hand, the first and the third goals will probably not be mentioned in the conversation – the goals that have determined the outcome of this match. However, Liverpool will most probably never forget them. Loris Karius, Liverpool’s goalkeeper, will certainly not be able to erase them from his mind.
The Aftermath
Liverpool does not have the possibility to cherry-pick which moments of the match they will cherish and which ones they will discard like Real Madrid does. In the aftermath of the match, all three will remain with the fans, the two horrid ones will remain even longer with Karius.
As the game neared its ending, Karius looked desperate because of the mistakes and Cristiano Ronaldo even more so as he desperately tried to find a chance to make a score that would etch his name in the finals as well. At the end of the game, Karius dropped to the ground, his face planted in the grass, and stayed like that for what appeared to be an eternity.
Gareth Bale’s Victorious Goals
The real star of the game was, of course, Gareth Bale. His two goals ensured a 3-1 win to Real Madrid and the chance to hold the crown. However, one goal was magic, the other one was a mere blunder.
This victory was Real Madrid’s third victory in a row of the tournament. That’s a feat that has not been seen since Bayern Munich won the Champions Leagues in a row between 1974-1976. In total, Real Madrid has 13 titles now overall and has won four European Cups in the last five years.
Time will tell how this victory will fare on Real Madrid’s legacy and what its fans and opponents will remember.