"Cometh the hour cometh the man" has been used to address Sergio Ramos of Realmadrid after his heroic rise to put the ball in the back of the net and hand Real madrid their 10th Uefa Champions league after 12 successive futile efforts.
It was on a Saturday, the night of 24th May, 2014, Estadio Da Luz in Lisbon was to host a memorable and unforgettable champions league final in the lives of Real madrid fans.
The 2014 UEFA Champions League Final was the final match of the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League, the 59th season of Europe's premier club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 22nd season since it was renamed from the European Champion Clubs' Cup to the UEFA Champions League, Realmadrid were to play Atletico Madrid in the final after beating Bayern munich home and way. Atletico got to the final after defeating Chelsea fc.
Atletico were renowned for shutting out attacks with compact defence and Real madrid were known to be patient builders of well decorated possession football and waiting for spaces to open up.
The only player suspended from the final was Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso, who picked up his third booking of the competition in the second leg of the semi-final. In his place, Carlo Ancelotti selected Germanymidfielder Sami Khedira, who himself had only recently returned from injury. Pepe was also left out of the starting XI, with 21-year-old French centre-back Raphaël Varane playing instead. Real Madrid's front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema were doubtful for the match, but all three overcame injuries to start the match. Specifically Ronaldo wasn't match fit and it was evident throughout the match, you could argue he was injected with pain-killing injections because he was pursuing an individual record of Highest goal scorer
Atlético captain Gabi returned from a one-match European suspension, while striker Diego Costa was included in the starting line-up, having undergone horse placenta treatment for a hamstring injury suffered in the last league match the previous Saturday. However, despite initial optimism, midfielder Arda Turan did not recover in time after suffering an injury in the same game.
The match started with Real madrid waiting to build possession and wait for Atletico to come out, Atletico in turn held their own at the back and wait for opportunities to counter.
Around the half-hour mark, after Realmadrid's Gareth Bale missed a glorious chance, Atletico were put ahead in the game with a Diego Godin header which went past a rushing out Casillas and into the back of the net.
As the match went on, Realmadrid tried to equalize, they kept playing into Atletico's plan, Atletico were content with sitting back and allowing Realmadrid come at them and waiting to hit on the counter. The match grew ferocious as it wore on,Real madrid players appeared to have run out of options, Angel Di Maria was the only Realmadrid player with a plan B. Di Maria took it upon himself to hold the ball ad draw fouls from Atletico players in dangerous areas, there were opportunities to equalize but all proved futile until the final chance of the game for Realmadrid came through a corner. At an exact 93rd minute, the cross was flown in by Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos pounced on the ball with a header that flew past Thuibiat Courtois and into the net.
The stadium erupted, Atletico fans, coach and players couldn't believe their eyes, it was like the world was sunk right in front of them. The match went into extra-time 1-1... That goal destabilized Atletico madrid as they were completely exhausted in Extra time as Realmadrid ran riot. A well-inspired and in-form Angel Di Maria dazzled past two players and had the keeper to beat, he struck the ball and it hit the keeper and flew into the air only to land on the head of an on-rushing Gareth Bale and into the net to make it 2-1 for Realmadrid.
Marcelo added a third with a well placed shot that hit the keeper's leg and still found its way into the net... Cristiano Ronaldo finally got what he wanted all match long, a penalty and an opportunity to score a goal, he played it past the helpless Courtois to make it 4-1.
Realmadrid were crowned champions of 2014 Uefa Champions league and it wouldn't have been possible without Sergio Ramos' injury time header.
Enjoy the glorious Goals and Highlights below...
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