Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior struck late to grab Real Madrid a hard-fought win over Borussia Dortmund and a record-extending 15th UEFA Champions League crown.

It also sent Carlo Ancelotti’s into the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024™, where they will play one of the champions of the five other confederations. Al Ain, Al Ahly and Auckland City have already qualified for the competition.

Dortmund, the overwhelming underdogs, had the better of the first half. They had several chances, with Karim Adeyemi spurning the best of them and Thibaut Courtois making one fine save.

The second half swung from end to end. The deadlock was finally broke when Vinicius Jr executed an outrageous piece of trickery to win a corner, and from it Carvajal’s thumping header beat Gregor Kobel. Vinicius quickly doubled Madrid’s lead after neat work from Jude Bellingham.

The result ensured the long-serving right-back, along with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Nacho, equalled Francisco Gento’s record of six European Cup/Champions League titles. Madrid have, astonishingly, emerged triumphant on the last nine occasions they have played in the fixture.

“Six titles in the Champions League is crazy, something I never thought I’d achieve,” Kroos told CBS. “”It seems in these games, we are unable to lose.

“It comes about because of quality, of course, but the mentality is crazy. It’s a lot of believing. It’s what separates this club from others.”